Abdominal Pain and Multi-Organ Dysfunction Syndrome in a Young Woman

Abstract

Thyroid storm is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by exaggerated thyrotoxic manifestations. Untreated thyroid storm is fatal, and the case fatality rate is 21% to 30%. The most important clinical management in thyroid storm is early recognition and treatment. We present the case of a previously healthy young woman in whom suspected gastrointestinal tract sepsis complicated by multi-organ dysfunction syndrome masked the major symptomatology of thyroid storm. This patient highlights the importance of a high clinical suspicion for potentially life-threatening conditions, such as thyroid storm, even in the absence of clinical clues (exophthalmos, lid lag, and goiter) or a history of thyrotoxicosis.