Pericardial Effusion Complicating Refractory Hypothyroidism Secondary to Autoimmune Atrophic Gastritis: A Case Report

Abstract

Hypothyroidism is characterized by a broad clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic or subclinical hypothyroidism to overt myxedema and multisystem failure. Pericardial effusion occurs frequently in myxedema but is rare in other stages of hypothyroidism because of the timeliness in which hypothyroidism is nowadays detected and treated. The author reports a case of progressively worsening pericardial effusion from refractory hypothyroidism secondary to autoimmune atrophic gastritis. The approach to managing pericardial effusion complicating refractory hypothyroidism is discussed.