Spontaneous Periodic Hypothermia in the Elderly: A Rare or Under-Recognised Syndrome

Spontaneous periodic hypothermia is a rare syndrome presenting with recurrent, centrally mediated hypothermia without an identifiable systemic cause or brain lesion. The case of an 88-year-old woman with recurrent hypothermia is reported. Despite intensive investigation, no other manifestations of hypothalamic or autonomic dysfunction were found. No corpus callosum lesion was seen on MRI. The patient was successfully treated with clomipramine chlorhydrate. LEARNING POINTS: Periodic hypothermia in the elderly is a rare and possibly under-recognised syndrome. The causes of the syndrome remain unknown. Pharmacological trials have only been modestly successful.