Two cases of thyroid storm-associated cholestatic jaundice.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the association of the rare and serious complication of jaundice with severe thyrotoxicosis, a potentially lethal endocrine disorder.


METHODS
We report the clinical, laboratory, and pathologic findings of 2 cases of severe jaundice (total bilirubin levels: 35.2 mg/dL in case 1 and 42 mg/dL in case 2) associated with thyroid storm in the absence of a history of liver disease, thionamide exposure, or congestive heart failure. We also present other relevant reports available in the literature.


RESULTS
Case 1 was a 38-year-old woman who presented with nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pruritus, and frequent nonbloody diarrhea. She was transferred to our institution because of worsening hyperbilirubinemia. Case 2 was a 35-year-old woman admitted to a community hospital with thyroid storm and jaundice. Upon transfer to our institution, the patient was unconscious, mechanically ventilated, and in atrial fibrillation. In case 2, liver biopsy results revealed diffuse hepatocellular ballooning with intrahepatic cholestasis with mild portal lymphocytic infiltration. Both patients presented with severe cholestatic jaundice in the absence of congestive heart failure; underlying liver disease (infectious or autoimmune); or previous exposure to thionamides, other hepatotoxic agents, or complementary and alternative medications. In both cases, jaundice responded to therapy with antithyroid medications. Both patients eventually underwent thyroidectomy with complete resolution of the jaundice.


CONCLUSIONS
The data strongly suggest that in these patients, the hepatic dysfunction was primarily due to hyperthyroidism. These cases indicate that the mere presence of hyperbilirubinemia during severe thyrotoxicosis should not per se delay the use of potentially life-saving thionamides once a thorough evaluation for other causes of liver disease has been completed.
Hull
Kristen
K
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Horenstein
Richard
R
Naglieri
Rosalie
R
Munir
Kashif
K
Ghany
Marc
M
Celi
Francesco S
FS
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D041781:Jaundice, Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013958:Thyroid Crisis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D013974:Thyroxine; D001663:Bilirubin