Abstract

ABSTRACTA 71-year-old man had severe hypothroidism, chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, and bacteremia due to Edwardsiella tards. Review of the literature identified the hypothesis the E tarda infections may occur more frequently in immunocompromised patients. Previous animal studies have shown decrease in lymphocyte function during hypothyroidism, with return of normal lymphocyte function during euthyroid states. Therefore, lymphocyte trasformation lymphocyte were obtained, demonstrating serve decreases in our patient's transformation function. Except for chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, other immune system abnomalities were excluded. Serial lymphocyte tranformation studies shoed gradual improvement lymphocyte function during gradual return to euthyriod state. Possible pathophysiologic mechanisms for the findings will be reviewed.