פוסט זה זמין גם ב: עברית
Jul 20, 2023
Contributor: Travis Barlock MD
Educational Pearls:
Clinical picture: A patient comes in with altered mental status, tachycardia, fever, elevated T4, and low TSH. What’s the diagnosis?… Thyrotoxicosis secondary to Graves’ Disease.
How do you treat thyrotoxicosis?
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First, give a beta-blocker such as propranolol. This suppresses the elevated adrenergic activity.
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Second, give a thionamide such as propylthiouracil (PTU) or methimazole. This decreases the synthesis of new thyroid hormone. PTU is preferred because it also blocks the conversion of T4 to T3.
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Third, give an iodine solution such as potassium iodide. This blocks the release of thyroid hormone through a mechanism called the Wolff-Chaikoff effect. Note, this should be given about an hour after the PTU/methimazole to ensure iodine cannot be taken up and used to synthesize more thyroid hormone in individuals with toxic adenoma or toxic multinodular goiter.
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Fourth, give a glucocorticoid such as hydrocortisone. This will reduce thyroid hormone conversion from T4 to T3 and treat any concurrent adrenal insufficiency.
References
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Abuid J, Larsen PR. Triiodothyronine and thyroxine in hyperthyroidism. Comparison of the acute changes during therapy with antithyroid agents. J Clin Invest. 1974 Jul;54(1):201-8. doi: 10.1172/JCI107744. PMID: 4134836; PMCID: PMC301541.
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Cooper DS, Saxe VC, Meskell M, Maloof F, Ridgway EC. Acute effects of propylthiouracil (PTU) on thyroidal iodide organification and peripheral iodothyronine deiodination: correlation with serum PTU levels measured by radioimmunoassay. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1982 Jan;54(1):101-7. doi: 10.1210/jcem-54-1-101. PMID: 6274892.
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Das G, Krieger M. Treatment of thyrotoxic storm with intravenous administration of propranolol. Ann Intern Med. 1969 May;70(5):985-8. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-70-5-985. PMID: 5769631.
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Nayak B, Burman K. Thyrotoxicosis and thyroid storm. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2006 Dec;35(4):663-86, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2006.09.008. PMID: 17127140.
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Tsatsoulis A, Johnson EO, Kalogera CH, Seferiadis K, Tsolas O. The effect of thyrotoxicosis on adrenocortical reserve. Eur J Endocrinol. 2000 Mar;142(3):231-5. doi: 10.1530/eje.0.1420231. PMID: 10700716.