OCCURRENCE OF ASCITES IN MYXEDEMA: Report of Two Cases

Anasarca to a slight degree was not uncommon though in no instance was it excessive. On the other hand, passive effusions into serous cavities, sometimes to a considerable amount, were frequently noted. ALTHOUGH this quotation dates back to a report of a Committee of the Clinical Society of London nominated in 1883 to investigate the subject of myxedema, 1 nevertheless, the reports of a combination of myxedema and ascites since that time are infrequent. Watson and associates 2 reported that only 22 well-established cases of myxedema with ascites had been recorded prior to 1941. While the recognition of a typical case of myxedema should not be difficult, actually some confusion may be encountered, especially when there are findings of serous effusions, dyspnea, and a great amount of pitting edema. McGavack 3 notes that a number of such cases are admitted to hospitals as cardiac cases. Ascites in such a patient