Hypothyroidism characterized by a relatively hard edema of subcutaneous tissue, with increased content of mucins (proteoglycans) in the fluid; characterized by somnolence, slow mentation, dryness and loss of hair, increased fluid in body cavities such as the pericardial sac, subnormal temperature, hoarseness, muscle weakness, and slow return of a muscle to the neutral position after a tendon jerk; usually caused by removal or loss of functioning thyroid tissue. [myx- + G. oidema, swelling]
- congenital m. SYN: infantile hypothyroidism.
- operative m. m. developing after thyroidectomy.
- pituitary m. m. resulting from inadequate secretion of the thyrotropic hormone; commonly occurs in association with inadequate secretion of other anterior pituitary hormones.
* * *
myx·ede·ma or chiefly Brit myx·oe·de·ma .mik-sə-'dē-mə n severe hypothyroidism characterized by firm inelastic edema, dry skin and hair, and loss of mental and physical vigor
myx·ede·ma·tous or chiefly Brit myx·oe·de·ma·tous -'dem-ət-əs, -'dē-mət- adj
* * *
myx·ede·ma (miks″ə-deґmə) [myxo- + edema] dry, waxy swelling of the skin with abnormal deposits of glycosaminoglycans in the skin or other tissues; it is considered to be a type of mucinosis and is usually associated with primary hypothyroidism. The edema is nonpitting, and there are distinctive facial changes including swollen lips and a thickened nose. Cf. lichen myxedematosus. myxedematous adj
Myxedema in adult hypothyroidism.
Medical dictionary. 2011.