A 30 year old female visited her physician complaining of fatigue, weight gain,

Question

A 30 year old female visited her physician complaining of fatigue, weight gain, diffuse alopecia, hearing impairment, "chills", and an inability to concentrate. The patient had recently left her job as an aerobics instructor due severe muscle cramping upon exercise and shortness of breath. The physician noted a heart rate of 50 beats per minute. The following laboratory tests were conducted (Normal values are in parentheses.): Blood tests: Free thyroxine 0.6 ng/dL (0.8 to 2.0) TSH 1.88 mU/ml (0.4 to 4.0) FSH 3.1 mU/ml (1.9 to 10.0) Prolactin 42.3 ng/ml (3 to 20) Cholesterol 198 mg/dL (140 to 199) Glucose 75 mg/dL (70 to 105) Erythrocytes 4.3 million/mm3 (3.8 to 5.1 million) Mean (average) cell hemoglobin conc. 30.7% (33.0 to 37.0%) Urine test: Free cortisol in 24 hour urine 29 mg/day (10 to 50 mg/day) 3. Explain the anemia. 4. What is the treatment available for this disorder? 5. Are there other endocrine abnormalities present? Briefly explain why or why not.

Explanation / Answer

3.Anemia is a deficiency of iron in the blood. This is due to less hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is a protein which helps in transport of oxygen. If a person is suffering from anemia then person suffers shortness of breath and she over here suffered from muscle cramps also due to this only.

4.Anemia is cured giving iron supplements if its iron deficiency anemia. If it is Vitamin B deficiency anemia then vitamin B supplements are given.

Thyroxine levels are low which signifies she is suffering from hypothyroidism. Low levels of thyroxine justify that she is suffering from hypothyroidism. But her TSH levels should have been high if she was suffering from hypothyroidism.

Her prolactin levels are also high.

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