Benign intracranial hypertension and thyreostimulin suppression hormonotherapy

Am J Ophthalmol. 2002 Dec;134(6):910-1. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(02)01852-4.

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case of benign intracranial hypertension occurring during thyreostimulin suppression hormonotherapy after thyroidectomy for papillary cancer.

Design: Interventional case report.

Methods: A 45-year-old woman underwent total thyroidectomy for a 7-mm papillary cancer. Seventeen years later, she experienced headache, dizziness, irritability, sensation of full head, and blurred vision of the right eye while being treated with a mix of L thyroxin (LT4) and liothyronin (LT3). Ophthalmological data (including the presence of papilledema), cerebroorbital magnetic resonance imaging, and lumbar pressure evaluation confirmed benign intracranial hypertension.

Results: Substitutive hormonotherapy was decreased under specialized surveillance, permitting remission of benign intracranial hypertension symptoms and papilledema.

Conclusions: Benign intracranial hypertension is usually difficult to cure, and its association with thyroid hormonotherapy is rare. In our patient, tapering LT4 and withdrawal of LT3 until a euthyroidal state was obtained resulted in successful treatment of benign intracranial hypertension.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / surgery
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Papilledema / chemically induced
  • Pseudotumor Cerebri / chemically induced*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / surgery
  • Thyroidectomy
  • Thyroxine / adverse effects*
  • Triiodothyronine / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • thyrostimulin
  • Triiodothyronine
  • Thyroxine