[Thyroid storm associated with multiorganic dysfunction]

Medicina (B Aires). 2017;77(4):337-340.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Thyroid storm is a rare and potentially fatal condition. Unusual presentations in patients with thyroid storm have been described but multiorganic dysfunction is uncommonly seen. We describe the case of a 36-year-old woman with unknown underlying Graves's disease who developed thyroid storm. The thyroid storm score of Burch and Wartofsky was 50/140. This was complicated by acute liver failure, acute kidney injury, lactic acidosis, heart failure, bi-cytopenia, coagulopathy and rhabdomyolysis. The severe multiorgan dysfunction was reversed by prompt institution of steroids, cyclophosphamide and plasma exchange before thyroidectomy. Main difficulty lies in recognizing its varied presentations and offering appropriate treatment when physician faces either failure or contraindications of conventional therapy.

Keywords: immunosuppressive agents; multiple organ failure; plasmapheresis; thyroid crisis; thyroidectomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Graves Disease / complications
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Multiple Organ Failure / diagnosis
  • Multiple Organ Failure / etiology*
  • Plasmapheresis
  • Thyroid Crisis / complications*
  • Thyroid Crisis / diagnosis
  • Thyroid Crisis / therapy
  • Thyroidectomy

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents