Thyrotoxic crisis

From greek.doctor

Thyrotoxic crisis, also called thyroid storm, is a life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism, most commonly due to Graves disease. Even with treatment the mortality is 30%. It can be triggered by:

  • Surgery
  • Trauma
  • Radioiodine treatment
  • Iodine-containing drugs and contrast materials
  • Infections
  • Delivery

Clinical features

The symptoms are those of severe thyrotoxicosis, with severe tachycardia or arrhythmia, hyperpyrexia, and organ failure.

Treatment

The treatment involves removal of excess thyroid hormone by plasmapheresis as well as inhibition of hormone production. The latter is accomplished by high dose thyreostatic drugs or inorganic iodine or lithium, which decrease the release of thyroid hormones.