Adult hypothyroidism and its neurological complications

Abstract

Hypothyroidism is a clinical entity very commonly encountered in clinical practices. Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to hypertension, dyslipidemia, infertility, cognitive impairment, neurological and neuromuscular involvements. Neurological complications include reversible cerebellar ataxia, dementia, peripheral neuropathy, psychosis, coma, encephalopathy (Hashimoto's encephalopathy), neuromuscular disorders. The disease identification in the initial stage remains difficult as it presents with a large number of clinical features. Neonatal screening protocols in all patients of hypothyroidism can help in the timely detection as well as treatment. Most of the neurological manifestations can be reversed on timely administration of levothyroxine which works well even in reversing of the symptoms as it reverses the metabolic abnormalities. It is important to evaluate every patient with hypothyroidism or with the suspicion of the disease for any neurological abnormalities.