Episodic hypothermia with hyperhidrosis in a pregnant woman

BACKGROUND: Episodic hypothermia with hyperhidrosis is a disorder of thermoregulation, believed to be secondary to a hypothalamic dysfunction, which affects the body’s thermoregulatory centers. During this rare condition, the body may sweat profusely in an attempt to maintain a lowered body temperature set point. The exact cause of episodic hypothermia with hyperhidrosis is not known. CASE: A multigravida at 35 weeks’ gestation presented with symptoms consistent with hypothermia, although she was diaphoretic. Her basal body temperature was 91.2F, with a lowered blood pressure and heart rate. The fetal heart rate was 130 beats per minute and reassuring. Assisted rewarming occurred over a period of 3 hours, after which her temperature stabilized at 97.9F. The remainder of the pregnancy was uneventful, and the patient delivered a term infant with no apparent adverse effects from this episode. CONCLUSION: Episodic hypothermia with hyperhidrosis should be considered as a potential cause of hypothermia during pregnancy.