Clinical Profiles of Thyroid Dermopathy: A Dermato-Endocrinological Perspective

Thyroid disorders sometimes have extra-thyroidal manifestations. Hyperthyroidism is a clinical syndrome resulting from excessive secretion of thyroid hormones. The most common cause is Graves’ disease. About 0.5–4.3% of patients with Graves’ disease have an infiltrative dermopathy called thyroid dermopathy, which is due to excessive deposition of glycosaminoglycans from activated fibroblasts. Skin fibroblasts are activated by thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies the whole process being initiated by T lymphocytes. Rarely, thyroid dermopathy is also found in other thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto thyroiditis. The diffuse non-pitting edema variant is the most common clinical presentation. Other variants include the nodular, plaque, mixed, and elephantiasis types. Usually, the main concerns of the patients are cosmetic, discomfort, and difficulty in wearing shoes. Thyroid dermopathy usually presents after the diagnosis of Graves’ disease, but it may also present together or sometime after this condition. Rarely, thyroid dermopathy presents before the diagnosis of Graves’ disease is made. Apart from the shin and feet, other sites that can be affected include the arms, forearms, back, thighs, pinna, and nose. The management is multidisciplinary, involving dermatologists and endocrinologists. Usually, controlling the thyroid dysfunction does not translate into regression of the skin lesions. However, many patients have their thyroid dermopathy regress spontaneously, while others usually require local therapy. Other therapeutic options include systemic therapy such as pentoxifylline, compressive physiotherapy, and surgery.

Clinical profiles of thyroid dermopathy: a dermato-endocrinology minireview

Background: Thyroid disorders sometimes have extra-thyroidal manifestations. Hyperthyroidism is a clinical syndrome resulting from excessive secretion of thyroid hormones. The commonest cause is Graves’ disease. About 0.5 – 4.3% of patients with Graves’ disease have an infiltrative dermopathy called thyroid dermopathy. It is due to excessive deposition of glycosaminoglycans from activated fibroblasts. Skin fibroblasts are activated by thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies and the whole process is initiated by T lymphocytes. Thyroid dermopathy is rarely also found in other thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto thyroiditis. The diffuse non-pitting oedema variant is the commonest clinical presentation. Other variants include the nodular, plaque, mixed and elephantiasis types. The main concerns of the patients usually are cosmetic, discomfort and difficulty in wearing shoes. Thyroid dermopathy usually presents after the diagnosis of Graves diseases but it may present together or sometime after. Rarely, thyroid dermopathy presents before the diagnosis of Graves’ disease is made. Apart from the shin and feet, other sites that can be affected include arms, forearms, back, thighs, pinna and nose. Conclusion: The management is multidisciplinary, involving Dermatologists and Endocrinologists. Usually, controlling the thyroid dysfunction does not translate into regression of the skin lesion. However, many patients have their thyroid dermopathy regressing spontaneously while others usually require local therapy. Other therapeutic options include systemic therapy such as pentoxifylline, compressive physiotherapy and surgery.

Pretibial myxedema: pathogenetic features and clinical aspects

Pretibial myxedema (PTM) or thyroid dermopathy is a rare extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves disease. The condition is accompanied by mucinous skin changes, mainly in the anterior tibial surface. Severe forms may lead to lymphatic congestion and disability. Prolonged and intense autoimmune aggression is supposed to be necessary for PTM manifestation. However, data on the role of TSHR antibodies in the development of thyroid dermopathy are very ambiguous; evidence of IGF-1 receptor involvement in the pathogenesis was reported recently. Typically, PTM is localized on the anterior and lateral surfaces of both tibias and can be represented by diffuse, tumorous, plaque-like, or elephantiasic forms. Currently, early diagnostics involves regular preventive examination of the pretibial area. A diagnostic biopsy is indicated only in complex cases. Maintaining euthyroidism, smoking cessation, preventing injuries, and avoiding tight shoes that disturb lymphatic drainage are measures reducing the risk of PTM in GD patients. Currently, there are no accepted clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid dermopathy. This review provides the recent scientific data on etiopathogenesis and management of patients with PTM.