Federal government websites often end in. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. The site is secure. NCBI Bookshelf. A thyroid storm, also known as a thyrotoxic crisis, is an acute, life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism that presents with multi-system involvement.
Thus, it is very important to recognize it early and start aggressive treatment to reduce mortality. This activity reviews the tools available to assist with the diagnosis and management of thyroid storms and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in caring for affected patients. Objectives: Determine the etiology of a thyroid storm. Assess the potential complications of a thyroid storm. Evaluate available treatment options for a thyroid storm.
Communicate the importance of a well-coordinated, interprofessional team approach when managing patients presenting with thyroid storm. Access free multiple choice questions on this topic. Thyroid storm, also known as thyrotoxic crisis, is an acute, life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism. It is an exaggerated presentation of thyrotoxicosis, and it comes with sudden multisystem involvement. The diagnosis of thyroid storm is clinical.
Superimposed precipitating factors cause thyroid storms in patients with diagnosed or undiagnosed hyperthyroidism. It is more common with Graves disease but can occur with other etiologies of hyperthyroidism, such as toxic multinodular goiter and toxic thyroid adenoma. It is a rare presentation of hyperthyroidism. As per the United States survey, the incidence of storms ranged from 0. Per the Japanese National Survey, the incidence of thyroid storms was 0. The average age of people with thyroid storm was 42 to 43 years, similar to those with thyrotoxicosis without thyroid storm.
The male-to-female ratio for the incidence of thyroid storms was about , similar to that of thyrotoxicosis without storm groups. The pathophysiological basis for the precipitation of thyroid storms in patients with thyrotoxicosis is unclear. But, as mentioned above, a precipitating factor is always required to cause a thyroid storm.
