Deficiency of Thyroxine

The anaemia of myxoedema (thyroxine deficiency) is usually moderate in degree, and often accompanied by iron deficiency. Pernicious anaemia also occurs more commonly in patients with myxoedema, probably as a result of a common underlying auto-immune process. In the anaemia of myxoedema, treatment with thyroxin produces a slow improvement in the blood level. Any associated iron deficiency must also be appropriately corrected.