Woltman's sign (also called Woltman's sign of

hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism (also called ''underactive thyroid'', ''low thyroid'' or ''hypothyreosis'') is a disorder of the endocrine system in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. It can cause a number of symptoms, such as po ...

or, in older references,

myxedema Myxedema is a term used synonymously with severe hypothyroidism. However, the term is also used to describe a dermatological change that can occur in hyperthyroidism and (rare) paradoxical cases of hypothyroidism. In this latter sense, myxedema ...

reflex) is a delayed relaxation phase of an elicited deep tendon reflex, usually tested in the

Achilles tendon The Achilles tendon or heel cord, also known as the calcaneal tendon, is a tendon at the back of the lower leg, and is the thickest in the human body. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius (calf) and soleus muscles to the calcaneus (h ...

of the patient. Woltman's sign is named for

Henry Woltman Henry William Woltman (16 June 1889 – 1 November 1964) was an American neurologist and the first neurologist at the Mayo Clinic The Mayo Clinic () is a nonprofit American academic medical center focused on integrated health care, educatio ...

, an American

neurologist Neurology (from el, νεῦρον (neûron), "string, nerve" and the suffix -logia, "study of") is the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the brain, the spinal c ...

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Associated conditions

The delayed ankle jerks are associated with: * hypothyroidism; * Huntington's disease; * several neurological symptoms; *

anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa, often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by low weight, food restriction, body image disturbance, fear of gaining weight, and an overpowering desire to be thin. ''Anorexia'' is a term of Gr ...

; * extreme old age; *

beta-blocker Beta blockers, also spelled β-blockers, are a class of medications that are predominantly used to manage abnormal heart rhythms, and to protect the heart from a second heart attack after a first heart attack (secondary prevention). They are al ...

s or other drugs; and/or * hypothermia.

History

In 1924, William Calvert Chaney (1888–1965), who worked under Henry Woltman at the Mayo Clinic, seems to have been the first to publish a description of the sign, but Woltman had no authorship and was not mentioned in Chaney's manuscript. The eponym "Woltman's sign of myxedema" was first published in 1956 at the time of Woltman's retirement.

References

Medical signs Thyroid disease Symptoms and signs: Endocrinology, nutrition, and metabolism {{endocrine-disease-stub