Yonsei Med J.  2003 Apr;44(2):351-354. 10.3349/ymj.2003.44.2.351.

A Case of Thyroid Storm Due to Thyrotoxicosis Factitia

• Yoon SJ
• Kim DM
• Kim JU
• Kim KW
• Ahn CW
• Cha BS
• Lim SK
• Kim KR
• Lee HC
• Huh KB

• KMID: 1779489
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2003.44.2.351

Abstract

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 microgram). 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 microgram/dl, FT4 was 7.7 ng/dL, TSH was 0.05 micro IU/mL and TBG was 12.84 microgram/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.

Keyword

Thyroid storm; thyrotoxicosis factitia; ingestion of excessive thyroid hormone

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Factitious Disorders/*complications
Female
Human
Thyroid Crisis/*etiology
Thyroid Hormones/*poisoning
Thyrotoxicosis/*complications