Hypothyroidism presenting with musculoskeletal symptoms.

The possibility of hypothyroidism should be considered in patients presenting with rheumatic pains of uncertain aetiology. While it is established that this condition can occasionally present with muscle weakness due to myopathy (Fessel, 1968), it is perhaps less well appreciated that muscle pain and stiffness may predominate over weakness, and in this paper nine hypothyroid patients who presented with musculoskeletal symptoms of this kind are described. Their principal features are summarized in Table I.