Steroid-responsive recurrent encephalopathy associated with subacute thyroiditis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with subacute thyroiditis has, to our knowledge, not been reported previously.

CASE REPORT:

A 49-year-old woman was found collapsed and brought to our institution with decreased mentality, dysarthria, and gait disturbance. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and angiography were normal but blood tests revealed thyroid-autoantibody-negative thyrotoxicosis. Results of a (99m)technetium-pertechnetate scan were compatible with the thyrotoxic phase of subacute thyroiditis. 14-3-3 proteins were detected in cerebrospinal fluid. Her mental status began to improve from the day following steroid administration. Recurrent encephalopathy was found 2 months after the initial admission, which was also effectively treated with steroid.

CONCLUSIONS:

We speculate that steroid-responsive recurrent encephalopathy associated with subacute thyroiditis is a subtype of Hashimoto's encephalopathy, and consider that steroid treatment should not be delayed in suspected patients.

• Authors: Yun Jae Chung, Kwang-Yeol Park, Jihyun Ahn, Sam-Yeol Ha, Young Chul Youn
• Journal: Journal of clinical neurology (Seoul, Korea) (J Clin Neurol) Vol. 4 Issue 4 Pg. 167-70 (Dec 2008) ISSN: 1738-6586 [Print] Korea (South)
• PMID: 19513293 (Publication Type: Journal Article)