title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fone-Ching
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Yi-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Chang-Hsun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Ling-Yi
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Kuang-Chung
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Chih-Tsueng
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013958:Thyroid Crisis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D011433:Propranolol; D006854:Hydrocortisone