Myxoedema presenting with ascites: a case report.

A 61-year-old woman who presented with gross ascites is described. She had many of the clinical features of hypothyroidism, including a pericardial effusion and a normocytic normochromic anaemia. The ascitic fluid was exudative in type. The diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism was confirmed by the finding of low serum thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine levels, low 131I uptake, and high serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. The patient responded well to carefully graded thyroxine therapy.