Plasmapheresis for the treatment of thyroid storm.

A thyroid storm (or thyroid crisis) is an emergency in endocrinology. It is a form of complication of hyperthyroidism that can be life-threatening. Inadequate control of hyperthyroidism in pregnancy could...

Excerpt INTRODUCTION Thyroid storm or crisis is a severe, often fatal exacerbation of the manifestations of hyperthyroidism, which requires prompt recognition and energetic treatment if the patient...

Thyroid storm is a syndrome related to acute exacerbation of thyrotoxicosis for which timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Importance of antithyroid drug therapy in thyroid storm patients has been emphasised in clinical treatments for a long time. These patients should receive definitive therapy for their underlying hyperthyroidism to avoid recurrence after controlling thyroid storm. However, the curative effect of antithyroid medication is sometimes limited because of rare or serious side effects or failure to control disease progression, resulting in few treatment alternatives. We present a case of an old woman with thyroid storm and antithyroid drug intolerance, which was successfully managed using a combination of plasma exchange and thyroidectomy. It confirms the significant benefits of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) when clinical conditions do not allow routine treatment of thyroid storm. This procedure is safe and effective when performed preoperatively as a rescue measure for thyroid storm patients. Key Words: Thyroid storm, Drug intolerance, Plasma exchange, Total Thyroidectomy.

When the storm passes unnoticed—A case series of thyroid storm

<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> A thyroid crisis is an endocrine emergency involving many organ systems and can be fatal to the patient's survival. Although cases of thyroid crisis are rare, the mortality rate is significant which reaches 20–50%. The presence of comorbidities such as pneumonia infection increases the risk of death dramatically. Infection is a factor that can trigger thyroid crisis and exacerbate thyrotoxicosis. This condition of thyroid crisis most often occurs in people with hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease. We present the case of a patient with Graves' disease, aged 22 years, who developed a thyroid crisis due to community-acquired pneumonia infection. This study aims to provide a case report regarding the thyroid crisis due to pneumonia.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> We carried out a physical and some appropriate supporting examinations to confirm the diagnosis. Wayne's index was 26, indicating hyperthyroidism. Assessment with Burch-Wartofsky obtained a score of 45, indicating suspicion of a thyroid storm. Then supportive care was provided to the patient. The community-acquired pneumonia as a triggering factor was treated with antibiotics. Thyrotoxicosis conditions were treated with antithyroid, beta-blocker, and glucocorticoid drugs. The patient's condition improved after treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>It is crucial to detect and treat thyroid storm as quickly as possible since it has a high mortality rate. Wayne's score is useful for identifying hyperthyroidism based on clinical symptoms. The Burch-Wartofsky Point Scale scores are used to diagnose thyroid storms. Thyroid storm should be managed according to PERKENI (Perkumpulan Endokrinologi Indonesia) and ATA (American Thyroid Association) recommendations. This case serves as an example of how to make a proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent morbidity and death due to thyroid crisis.</p>

Rationale:Thyroid storm (TS), also known as thyroid crisis, is a life-threatening condition that involves multiple organ dysfunction and high mortality due to uncontrolled hyperthyroidism. TS in children is extremely rare, early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve the prognosis of the children.Patient concerns:Three female children who diagnosed as “thyroid storm” were admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). One of them had a family history of hyperthyroidism and others had infection factors induced TS. They presented with characteristic manifestations of TS and were evaluated with Burch-Wartofsky Point Scale (BWPS) hyperthyroidism score.Diagnoses:Three cases showed that free triiodothyronine 3 (FT3) and free triiodothyronine 4 (FT4) were increased and Thyroid-Stimulating-Hormone was significantly decreased, which were characteristic in hyperthyroidism. They presented with characteristic manifestations of TS and were evaluated with BWPS hyperthyroidism score.Interventions:All the cases were given antithyroid drugs (ATDs) for treatment. In addition, 1 of them underwent therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) after transferring to PICU.Outcomes:One of the cases was declared dead and others were survived.Lessons:TS should be identified timely and treated early. Further studies are needed to determine the diagnostic criteria and scoring system for TS in pediatric.

Thyroid storm is a life-threatening endocrine emergency characterized by an acute exacerbation of thyrotoxicosis, often triggered by stressors such as surgery or infection, with a mortality rate of 8%-25%. Although the risk is well-documented in thyroid surgeries, perioperative thyroid storm following non-thyroid procedures is exceedingly rare, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This case report and literature review aim to highlight the clinical features and management strategies for perioperative thyroid storm in non-thyroid surgical patients through a case analysis and literature review. A 53-year-old Chinese male with a 20-year history of poorly controlled hyperthyroidism (irregular medication adherence) underwent closed reduction and intramedullary nailing for a right femoral fracture. Preoperative evaluation revealed mildly elevated free triiodothyronine (FT3: 6.87 pmol/L) and profoundly suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH: <0.01 mIU/L). Antithyroid medication was omitted on the day of surgery. Following surgery and transfer to the recovery room, the patient demonstrated delayed emergence from anesthesia, with a Burch-Wartofsky score of 45 and persistent tachycardia (heart rate 144 bpm), meeting Grade 1 thyroid storm criteria per Japan Thyroid Association guidelines, indicating a definitive thyroid storm. After about one hour, the patient was diagnosed with thyroid crisis. Intravenous hydrocortisone (100 mg) and continuous esmolol infusion were promptly initiated, leading to gradual heart rate stabilization at 120 bpm. Approximately 20 minutes later, the patient regained full consciousness and met criteria for discharge from the recovery room. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 10 without complications. This case underscores that non-thyroid surgery can precipitate thyroid storm in hyperthyroid patients, even with atypical presentations (e.g., absence of hyperpyrexia). Early recognition relies on vigilance toward tachycardia and altered mental status. Perioperative management should emphasize: (1) rigorous preoperative optimization of thyroid function to achieve euthyroidism; (2) vigilant postoperative monitoring for early signs of thyroid storm; and 3) prompt diagnosis using the Burch-Wartofsky scale and guideline-based criteria, followed by combined therapy with beta-blockers, corticosteroids, and antithyroid drugs. This case uniquely demonstrates that non-thyroid surgery can precipitate thyroid storm without classic hyperthermia, highlighting the need for standardized monitoring protocols in hyperthyroid surgical patients.

New American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Guidelines for Thyrotoxicosis and Other Forms of Hyperthyroidism: Significant Progress for the Clinician and a Guide to Future Research

Disclosure: T.A. John: None. A.C. Suarez: None. J. Genkil: None. S. Patil: None. C. Anastasopoulou: None. Case Presentation: A 59-year-old female with hypertension and type 2 diabetes presented with palpitations, and several months of hyperthyroid symptoms, lower extremity swelling, and dyspnea on exertion. On presentation, patient was diaphoretic, tachycardic, volume overloaded and had symmetric swelling of the thyroid gland. Lab results revealed FT4 3.28 ng/dL, total T3 384.59 ng/dL, TSH &amp;lt; 0.01 µIU/mland elevated TSI. Electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia. Chest radiography showed pulmonary edema. Echocardiography showed a reduced ejection fraction of 35%, dilation of right ventricle, severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, and severely elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (55-60 mm Hg). Thyroid ultrasound revealed enlarged, heterogeneous thyroid gland with normal vascularity. The diagnosis of thyroid storm due to Graves' disease was made with a score of 50 on the Burch-Wartofsky Point Scale. Patient was started on propylthiouracil (PTU), metoprolol tartrate and furosemide. Corticosteroid therapy was not utilized due to the risk of worsening heart failure from sodium retention. After two days of PTU, patient developed drug induced liver injury (DILI). Patient was then transitioned to methimazole which was also discontinued thereafter due to progression of DILI. She was started on potassium iodide to suppress thyroid hormone production, and N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC) for DILI. Due to persistent thyrotoxicosis, the patient underwent a total thyroidectomy on hospital day 13 and was started on levothyroxine for post-surgical hypothyroidism. Liver function returned to normal on day 16. A surveillance echocardiogram obtained 3 months later showed recovered biventricular function (ejection fraction 55-60%), mild mitral and tricuspid regurgitation and normal pulmonary pressures. Educational value: Thyroid storm is an uncommon, life-threatening emergency. Thioamides remain the cornerstone of treatment, but rarely, they can result in adverse events such as hepatotoxicity. When thioamides are contraindicated, other agents (e.g., iodine, lithium, potassium perchlorate, cholestyramine, glucocorticoids) can be utilized; however, refractory cases might require total thyroidectomy as definitive treatments. Our patient had marked recovery of cardiac function and resolution of pulmonary hypertension and DILI after timely surgical intervention. Multidisciplinary care is pivotal for the successful management of thyroid storm. Presentation: 6/3/2024

BackgroundThyroid storm can be complicated by liver dysfunction, which may occasionally progress to acute liver failure. We herein report a case of acute liver failure following thyroid storm that was treated with living donor liver transplantation after resuscitation from cardiopulmonary arrest.Case reportThe patient was a woman in her 40 s who had been diagnosed with an abnormal thyroid function. She suffered from fatigue and vomiting, and was found to have consciousness disorder, a fever, and tachycardia with a neck mass. She was diagnosed with thyroid storm and was referred to our hospital. After arrival, she went into cardiopulmonary arrest and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated. In addition to treatment for thyroid storm with antithyroid drugs, steroids, and plasma exchange, extracorporeal life support was required for 5 days. However, despite improvements in her thyroid function, her liver function deteriorated. We planned living donor liver transplantation for acute liver failure after ensuring the recovery and control of the thyroid function following total thyroidectomy. The donor was her husband who donated the right lobe of his liver. Although she experienced acute cellular rejection after surgery, and other complications—including intra-abdominal hemorrhaging and ischemic changes in the intestine—her liver function and general condition gradually improved. One year after living donor liver transplantation, the patient was in a good condition with a normal liver function.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first report of living donor liver transplantation in a patient with acute liver failure following thyroid storm. Liver transplantation should be recognized as an effective treatment for acute liver failure following thyroid storm.

Background: Thyrotoxic crisis is a rare, multisystemic and lethal condition, especially when its reversal is delayed. The Burch Wartofsky score establishes severity and predicts the indication of plasmapheresis, but once there is organ dysfunction this therapy should be considered despite of the score. When it is added to conventional treatments it is really effective because of the quick clinical compensation of critically ill patients regardless of the main trigger factor of this emergency. Clinical Cases: 5 patients with thyrotoxic crisis, 1 man and 4 women that had Graves’disease (4 cases) or TSH-secreting tumor (1 case). The precipitating factors were: 1 case due to orchitis, 2 due to poor adhesion, 1 due to antithyroid drugs hepatoxicity and 1 due to ketoacidosis. All them had elevated free T4 ranging from 3.38 to >7.77 ng/dL. All them had high Burch Wartofsky scores (55 to 70) and severe organ dysfunctions: 4 cases with hepatopathy (hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice and coagulopathy) and cardiopathy (diastolic dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension) and 1 case with severe diabetic ketoacidosis. Plasmapheresis (2 to 3 sessions were performed) were indicated for clinical compensation and so subsequent definitive treatment: 3 cases received radioiodine therapy and 1 case had total thyroidectomy. All of them progressed well. The patient who died had already severe prior comorbidities. We performed a systematic survey on PubMed of English articles (case reports and reviews) in humans and we analyzed our 5 cases along with the 108 articles about the use of plasmapheresis in thyroid storm from 1970 to 2020 and we compare them to 394 ones of conventional treatments in past 10 years. Our objective was to evidence plasmapheresis is not related to a higher mortality of patients who underwent to it. We found 7% of mortality in both groups. The chi square test showed an Odds Ratio of (CI 95%) = 1,091 reinforcing there is no relation between number of deaths and treatment type. Conclusion: Plasmapheresis is a therapeutic option with few reports in the literature and without clear guidelines about indication criteria or better timing to initiate it. The statistical analysis showed that 3 or more organ dysfunctions in thyroid storm are related to higher death rates. Its early employment within 24 hours of the initial symptoms and the prompt normalization of free T4 are related to lower mortality. It is a safe and effective therapy that allows thyroid storm patients to be compensated to receive definitive treatment with lower chances of death. Reference: Ono Y, Ono S, Yasunaga H, Matsui H, Fushimi K, Tanaka Y. Factors Associated With Mortality of Thyroid Storm: Analysis Using a National Inpatient Database in Japan. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016;95(7):e2848.

INTRODUCTIONThe prevalence of thyroid storm is 0.2 per 100,000 people per year with mortality rates varying from 11% to 25%. Given the rarity of occurrence and the high mortality rates associated with thyroid storm, it is imperative to understand the definitive therapy pattern following such an event. METHODOLOGYWe conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of patients diagnosed with thyroid storm at Hospital Putrajaya between September 2013 and December 2023. Demographic data, comorbidities, definitive treatments, and patient outcomes were collected and analysed. RESULTWe included 30 patients with thyroid storm. Most of the subjects were Malay and female. Mean age at diagnosis of thyroid storm was 42 years. Thyroid storm occurred after a mean duration of 57 months following diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis. Seven patients (23.3%) presented with thyroid storm as the initial clinical manifestation of thyrotoxicosis. Most were triggered by respiratory tract infections, followed by gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections. Three patients (10%) died due to multiorgan failure. Thirteen subjects (43.3%) received definitive treatment: twelve (40%) received radioactive iodine and one underwent thyroidectomy. Eight (26.7%) defaulted on follow-up. Three patients (10%) were on medical therapy and undecided on definitive treatment. The mean duration between thyroid storm and definitive treatment was about 5 months. CONCLUSIONIn our cohort, majority of patients with thyroid storm had similar clinical characteristics to those in previous studies. The mortality rate was slightly lower than in previous studies. Less than half of the patients received definitive treatment. Therefore, measures should be taken to improve our post-thyroid storm management.

IntroductionThyroid storm or severe hyperthyroidism can present with various signs and symptoms. They are mostly controlled by general treatment, such as anti-thyroid drugs and other medications to control clinical features. However, in rare cases, they are more severe, and they only respond to more aggressive treatments, such as plasmapheresis and total thyroidectomy. The final histopathological features, such as the loci of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, are sometimes surprising. Case presentationHere, we present a 40-year-old female who presented with severe palpitation, diaphoresis, and chest pain. After taking the initial steps of treatment and stabilizing the patient, the history, physical exam, and laboratory results confirmed the diagnosis of a thyroid storm in the background of Graves’ disease that is accompanied by heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). She was admitted to an ICU setting and received principal treatment of thyroid storm. However, the systematic treatment was not effective, and finally, plasmapheresis and total thyroidectomy were performed. Histopathologic evaluation following surgery confirmed the presence of foci of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in the background of the grave’s disease.This case underscores the complexity of managing Grave’s induced thyroid storm in severe cases, which might lead to plasmapheresis and total thyroidectomy. Urgent and invasive treatment may be necessary in rare cases when normally applied treatment modalities are not able to control the situation and result in life-threatening critical health conditions. In such a severe case, it can result in serious cardiovascular complications such as decompensated heart failure with a high rate of mortality.Key clinical messageThyroid storm, though rare, can be accompanied by severe medical conditions such as heart failure and death. In cases in which primary medical and symptomatic therapies do not work, more aggressive treatment (such as plasmapheresis and total thyroidectomy) should be considered. On the other hand, precise histopathologic evaluation of the thyroid tissue is necessary.

Disclosure: A. Sridhar: None. T. Chaudhary: None. S. Patil: None. A. Prabha Kumar: None. K. Djekidel: None. B.C. Jameson: None. Background: Thyroid storm is a rare life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism with a mortality rate of 10-30%. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) could be a bridge to definitive total thyroidectomy in patients with refractory disease who fail conventional therapy. Clinical case: Patient is a 31-year-old male with a past medical history of untreated hypertension, anxiety, alcohol use, substance abuse and a family history of Graves’ disease. He presented with complaints of breathing difficulty, back and shoulder pain for the past 1 day. In the ED he was found to be in respiratory distress with a rate of 40/min. He was started on a non-rebreather mask and was eventually intubated due to worsening distress. He was tachycardic with a heart rate of 130/min and had elevated blood pressure at 170/105 mm Hg. Physical examination was significant for diaphoresis, accessory respiratory muscle use, and diffuse swelling on the front of the neck. His blood work was significant for hemoglobin 11.1g/dL, TSH &amp;lt;0.01 uIU/mL, FT3 &amp;gt;32.6 pg/ml, FT4&amp;gt;7.8 ng/dL and urine drug screen was negative. Chest X-ray showed mild perihilar vascular congestion due to pulmonary edema. CT neck showed nonspecific diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland without dominant thyroid nodule. The patient was admitted to the ICU for management of thyroid storm likely from Graves’ disease. Burch-Wartofsky Point Scale score on admission was 60. Endocrinology was consulted and the patient was started on IV hydrocortisone 100 mg and IV Methimazole 20 mg every 8 hours, propranolol 60 mg every 6 hours, and iodine drops 300 mg every 6 hours after the first dose of methimazole. Since repeat FT4 after 48 hours showed no improvement, he was switched to Propylthiouracil (PTU) with a loading dose of 500mg every 4 hours for 2 doses followed by 250 mg every 6 hours and cholestyramine 4 g orally 4 times daily to reduce enterohepatic circulation of thyroid hormone. After 3 days of PTU, the patient’s FT3 was improving but FT4 continued to be elevated. ENT was consulted for total thyroidectomy, but the patient required preparation to improve FT4 levels prior to surgery. He was transferred to a tertiary care center on Day 6 of admission to undergo TPE. After 3 sessions of TPE serum FT3 and FT4 decreased, patient’s mentation improved, and he was extubated on Day 10 of admission. He received a total of 5 sessions of TPE and underwent total thyroidectomy on Day 15 of admission without complications. Postoperatively he was started on oral Levothyroxine 125 mcg once daily and calcitriol 0.25 mcg twice daily. Patient continues to follow up with Endocrinology clinic for thyroid function monitoring and medication adjustment. Conclusion: Given the high mortality rate associated with thyroid storm, early recognition of refractory disease is imperative. Bridging with TPE while awaiting total thyroidectomy improved clinical outcomes in our patient and should be considered in such cases. Presentation: 6/3/2024

Acute severe asthma, thyroid crisis and acute myasthenia are all medical emergencies that rarely coexistent. Here, we report a young man with severe asthma attack, necessitate invasive mechanical ventilation at the onset, followed by thyroid crisis, rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, thrombocytopenia and progressive myasthenia. The aim of this study is to better understand the relationships among severe asthma, autoimmune thyroiditis and myasthenia. The case was presented and former literatures were reviewed. This is the first case report of a young patient presented with severe asthma and autoimmune thyroiditis, followed by thyroid storm, multiple organ dysfunction and myasthenia. Neither conventional treatment for asthma or thyroid storm was effective separately. The patient's clinical condition did not improve until after plasmapheresis. Here, we highlighted both the importance of early recognition of thyroid storm and prompt therapies, which likely attenuated organ dysfunction and enabled this patient to recover from the life-threatening attack. Asthmatic patients should be closely controlled when suspected of thyroid disorders, especially those with high levels of anti-thyroid antibodies irrespective of thyroid hormones concentrations.