Hyponatremia in myxedema: a suggested therapeutic approach.

Two patients with myxedema coma and extreme hyponatremia associated with the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone are described. Both recovered following i.v. hypertonic saline, furosemide and thyroxine. A review of 22 cases from the literature suggests that this therapeutic approach could improve the poor prognosis in this condition.