A survival case of myxedema coma of pituitary origin.

A successfully treated patient with myxedema coma of pituitary origin is reported. A forty-three year old woman, having a typical history of Sheehan's syndrome, was precipitated into the state of shock and coma. The coma was characterized with clinical features of myxedema coma, such as hypothermia, bradycardia and shallow respiration. The patient recovered from shock after intravenous administration of adrenocortical hormone and glucose. However, no recognizable improvement of her consciousness was obtained. She recovered from deep coma after oral administration of triiodothyronine. In addition to adequate supply of the deficient hormones, respiratory support by means of artificial respirator must have played an important role in the treatment of this patient.