Thyroid storm: Report of four cases in two health institutions, Barranquilla

Abstract

Thyroid storm or thyrotoxic crisis is a life-threatening condition, characterized by signs and symptoms of thyrotoxicosis associated with multiorgan dysfunction, occurs as a complication of hyperthyroidism and due to its high risk of mortality, merits timely diagnosis and early treatment. Among the main causes of thyroid storm is Graves' Basedow's disease, which is associated with triggering factors such as non-adherence to medical therapy. The diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations and increased thyroid hormones, but thyroid hormone levels are not related to the severity of the condition, so sensitive scoring systems have been developed to support the diagnostic approach. In this review, we analyze a series of patients with thyroid storm in which half of the patients have a fatal outcome, demonstrating the association with high mortality.