Intralesional Triamcinolone Therapy for Pretibial Myxedema

In a prospective study, nine patients with pretibial myxedema were treated with intralesional injections of triamcinolone acetonide. Complete resolution of the myxedematous plaques was obtained in seven of the nine patients. The other two patients failed to complete their treatment programs but did show partial resolution. For most patients the monthly injection of 8 ml or less of a solution containing 5 mg/ml of triamcinolone proved to be the most effective dosage schedule. No serious side effects were encountered. New nodules of myxedema developed in some patients after the initial completion of therapy; these nodules responded to reinjection using the same dosage schedule.