Plasma exchange as a rescue therapy for treatment-resistant thyroid storm with concurrent heart failure: a literature review based on a case report

Abstract Introduction Thyroid storm or severe hyperthyroidism can present with various signs and symptoms. They are mostly controlled by general treatment, such as anti-thyroid drugs and other medications to control clinical features. However, in rare cases, they are more severe, and they only respo...

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Main Authors: Pouya Ebrahimi, Moloud Payab, Maryam Taheri, Salma Sefidbakht, Neda Alipour, Taha Hasanpour, Pedram Ramezani, Mahbube Ebrahimpur, Hamid Reza Aghaei Meybodi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Emergency Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00783-2
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author Pouya Ebrahimi
Moloud Payab
Maryam Taheri
Salma Sefidbakht
Neda Alipour
Taha Hasanpour
Pedram Ramezani
Mahbube Ebrahimpur
Hamid Reza Aghaei Meybodi
author_facet Pouya Ebrahimi
Moloud Payab
Maryam Taheri
Salma Sefidbakht
Neda Alipour
Taha Hasanpour
Pedram Ramezani
Mahbube Ebrahimpur
Hamid Reza Aghaei Meybodi
author_sort Pouya Ebrahimi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Thyroid storm or severe hyperthyroidism can present with various signs and symptoms. They are mostly controlled by general treatment, such as anti-thyroid drugs and other medications to control clinical features. However, in rare cases, they are more severe, and they only respond to more aggressive treatments, such as plasmapheresis and total thyroidectomy. The final histopathological features, such as the loci of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, are sometimes surprising. Case presentation Here, we present a 40-year-old female who presented with severe palpitation, diaphoresis, and chest pain. After taking the initial steps of treatment and stabilizing the patient, the history, physical exam, and laboratory results confirmed the diagnosis of a thyroid storm in the background of Graves’ disease that is accompanied by heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). She was admitted to an ICU setting and received principal treatment of thyroid storm. However, the systematic treatment was not effective, and finally, plasmapheresis and total thyroidectomy were performed. Histopathologic evaluation following surgery confirmed the presence of foci of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in the background of the grave’s disease. This case underscores the complexity of managing Grave’s induced thyroid storm in severe cases, which might lead to plasmapheresis and total thyroidectomy. Urgent and invasive treatment may be necessary in rare cases when normally applied treatment modalities are not able to control the situation and result in life-threatening critical health conditions. In such a severe case, it can result in serious cardiovascular complications such as decompensated heart failure with a high rate of mortality. Key clinical message Thyroid storm, though rare, can be accompanied by severe medical conditions such as heart failure and death. In cases in which primary medical and symptomatic therapies do not work, more aggressive treatment (such as plasmapheresis and total thyroidectomy) should be considered. On the other hand, precise histopathologic evaluation of the thyroid tissue is necessary.
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publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher BMC
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series International Journal of Emergency Medicine
spelling doaj-art-ab422f554ff84c559745ffce8ce5c0b62025-08-20T02:43:35ZengBMCInternational Journal of Emergency Medicine1865-13802024-12-0117111010.1186/s12245-024-00783-2Plasma exchange as a rescue therapy for treatment-resistant thyroid storm with concurrent heart failure: a literature review based on a case reportPouya Ebrahimi0Moloud Payab1Maryam Taheri2Salma Sefidbakht3Neda Alipour4Taha Hasanpour5Pedram Ramezani6Mahbube Ebrahimpur7Hamid Reza Aghaei Meybodi8Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical SciencesNon-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical SciencesFaculty of Medicine, Hamedan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Pathology, School of Medicine, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical SciencesEndocrinology & Metabolism Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical SciencesEndocrinology & Metabolism Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical SciencesNon-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical SciencesEndocrinology & Metabolism Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical SciencesEvidence-based Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical SciencesAbstract Introduction Thyroid storm or severe hyperthyroidism can present with various signs and symptoms. They are mostly controlled by general treatment, such as anti-thyroid drugs and other medications to control clinical features. However, in rare cases, they are more severe, and they only respond to more aggressive treatments, such as plasmapheresis and total thyroidectomy. The final histopathological features, such as the loci of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, are sometimes surprising. Case presentation Here, we present a 40-year-old female who presented with severe palpitation, diaphoresis, and chest pain. After taking the initial steps of treatment and stabilizing the patient, the history, physical exam, and laboratory results confirmed the diagnosis of a thyroid storm in the background of Graves’ disease that is accompanied by heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). She was admitted to an ICU setting and received principal treatment of thyroid storm. However, the systematic treatment was not effective, and finally, plasmapheresis and total thyroidectomy were performed. Histopathologic evaluation following surgery confirmed the presence of foci of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in the background of the grave’s disease. This case underscores the complexity of managing Grave’s induced thyroid storm in severe cases, which might lead to plasmapheresis and total thyroidectomy. Urgent and invasive treatment may be necessary in rare cases when normally applied treatment modalities are not able to control the situation and result in life-threatening critical health conditions. In such a severe case, it can result in serious cardiovascular complications such as decompensated heart failure with a high rate of mortality. Key clinical message Thyroid storm, though rare, can be accompanied by severe medical conditions such as heart failure and death. In cases in which primary medical and symptomatic therapies do not work, more aggressive treatment (such as plasmapheresis and total thyroidectomy) should be considered. On the other hand, precise histopathologic evaluation of the thyroid tissue is necessary.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00783-2Thyroid stormGrave’s diseasesPlasmapheresisThyroidectomyPapillary thyroid cancerCase Report
spellingShingle Pouya Ebrahimi
Moloud Payab
Maryam Taheri
Salma Sefidbakht
Neda Alipour
Taha Hasanpour
Pedram Ramezani
Mahbube Ebrahimpur
Hamid Reza Aghaei Meybodi
Plasma exchange as a rescue therapy for treatment-resistant thyroid storm with concurrent heart failure: a literature review based on a case report
International Journal of Emergency Medicine
Thyroid storm
Grave’s diseases
Plasmapheresis
Thyroidectomy
Papillary thyroid cancer
Case Report
title Plasma exchange as a rescue therapy for treatment-resistant thyroid storm with concurrent heart failure: a literature review based on a case report
title_full Plasma exchange as a rescue therapy for treatment-resistant thyroid storm with concurrent heart failure: a literature review based on a case report
title_fullStr Plasma exchange as a rescue therapy for treatment-resistant thyroid storm with concurrent heart failure: a literature review based on a case report
title_full_unstemmed Plasma exchange as a rescue therapy for treatment-resistant thyroid storm with concurrent heart failure: a literature review based on a case report
title_short Plasma exchange as a rescue therapy for treatment-resistant thyroid storm with concurrent heart failure: a literature review based on a case report
title_sort plasma exchange as a rescue therapy for treatment resistant thyroid storm with concurrent heart failure a literature review based on a case report
topic Thyroid storm
Grave’s diseases
Plasmapheresis
Thyroidectomy
Papillary thyroid cancer
Case Report
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00783-2
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