Report of a Case of Hyperthyroidism

Abstract

which was associated with obesity, arteriosclerotic and hyperthyroid heart disease, severe, diabetes mellitus, a febrile response to iodine, and possible undulant fever, and in which the diabetes was completely controlled without insulin following thyroidectomy.

A sixty-one year old white woman presented herself at the Clinic in July, 1939, complaining of “heart trouble.” For the preceding eight or nine years she had had attacks of rather rapid and irregular heart action, the patient herself being conscious of the irregularity. At first these had occurred at rare intervals of once or twice a year, but as time passed, they were noted with increasing frequency. During the preceding year she had had four or five such episodes, the most recent of which had lasted for six weeks. Effort dyspnea, orthopnea, vertigo and tinnitus were denied. Slight swelling of the left ankle had been noted for only a few days. Moderate pain in the left side of the chest was considered to be muscular in origin.

Enlargement of the anterior neck had been present for four or five years, and nervous tension had gradually increased during the preceding year. Obesity had been present for a long period of time and there had been no recent weight loss. Appetite alteration, hyperhidrosis and heat intolerance were denied.

In the light of subsequent developments, it is also interesting to note that no history of glycosuria, polydipsia, polyuria or fever was elicited.

The patient was restless, apprehensive and uncooperative. The height was sixty-four inches and the weight on. . .