A case of thyroid storm due to thyrotoxicosis factitia.
We describe a case of thyroid storm due to thyrotoxicosis factitia, which was caused by the ingestion of excessive quantities of exogenous thyroid hormone for the purpose of reducing weight. An 18-year-old female was admitted to the hospital 24 hours after taking up to 50 tablets of synthyroid (1 tablet of synthyroid : levothyroxine 100 microg). Because of her stuporous mental state and acute respiratory failure, she was intubated and treated in the intensive care unit. After reviewing her history carefully and examining plasma thyroid hormone levels, we diagnosed this case as a thyroid storm due to thyrotoxicosis factitia. Her thyroid function test revealed that T3 was 305 ng/dL, T4 was 24.9 microg/dl, FT4 was 7.7 ng/dL, TSH was 0.05 micro IU/mL and TBG was 12.84 microg/mL (normal range: 11.3 - 28.9). TSH receptor antibody, antimicrosomal antibody, and antithyroglobulin antibody were negative. She was recovered by treatment, namely, steroid and propranolol, and was discharged 8 days after admission. Thyroid storm due to thyrotoxicosis factitia caused by the ingestion of excessive thyroid hormone is rarely reported worldwide. Therefore, we now report a case of thyroid storm that resulted from thyrotoxicosis factitia caused by the ingestion of a massive amount of thyroid hormone over a period of 6 months.
Department of Internal Medicine, Yongdong Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 146-92 Dogok-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul 135-720, Korea. kimkr96@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Soo-Jee
SJ
Yoon
Dol-Mi
DM
Kim
Jun-Uh
JU
Kim
Kyung-Wook
KW
Kim
Chul-Woo
CW
Ahn
Bong-Soo
BS
Cha
Sung-Kil
SK
Lim
Kyung-Rae
KR
Kim
Hyun-Chul
HC
Lee
Kap-Bum
KB
Huh
D000293:Adolescent; D005162:Factitious Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013958:Thyroid Crisis / Q000209:etiology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000506:poisoning*; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000150:complications*
D013963:Thyroid Hormones