COVID-19 and myxedema coma: a report of two cases and a literature review

Poma-Rueda M.J.; Gómez de la Torre-del Carpio A.; Noriega-Ruiz V.H.; Faustor-Sánchez J.; Huachín-Soto M. · Revista Medica Herediana (2026) · DOI: 10.20453/rmh.v37i2.6381

Resumen

Myxedema coma (MC) is a rare condition associated with high mortality in patients with hypothyroidism. We report two cases treated at a tertiary care hospital in Lima, Peru, between 2020 and 2021. Both patients achieved a diagnostic score greater than or equal to 60 on the Popoveniuc et al. scale. The cases met severity criteria for COVID-19. They presented with hypothermia and bradycardia following intubation and the administration of sedation and analgesia. It remains unknown how SARS-CoV-2 triggers MC. Evidence suggests a biochemical and immunological relationship between this virus and thyroid function. Thyroid disease and hypothyroidism are associated with a poor prognosis in COVID-19. The objective of this report was to describe the increased incidence of MC associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. © The authors. Open access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia