Thyroid Hormone Toxicity Clinical Presentation

  • Author: Lisandro Irizarry, MD, MPH, FAAEM; Chief Editor: Asim Tarabar, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 2, 2012
 

History

Access to thyroid hormone, especially in pediatric or unknown ingestions, is important.

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Physical

Focus the physical examination on findings consistent with symptoms of increased adrenergic activity and on the following signs:

  • Acute
    • Abdominal pain
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Diarrhea
    • Increased appetite
    • Insomnia
    • Anxiousness
    • Agitation
    • Tremor
    • Seizures
    • Weakness
    • Diaphoresis
    • Tachycardia
    • Palpitations
    • Hypertension or hypotension
    • Hyperpyrexia/heat intolerance
    • Confusion
    • Psychosis
    • Hypoglycemia
    • Skin flushing
    • Transient systolic ejection murmurs
    • Pulmonary edema
    • Adrenal insufficiency
  • Chronic
    • Weight loss
    • Menstrual irregularities
    • Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
    • High-output left ventricular failure
    • Hypotension
    • Hemiparesis
    • Delirium
    • Coma
    • Pneumonia
    • Sepsis
    • Hyperthermia
    • Acute renal failure
    • Myopathy
    • Palmar and plantar desquamation
    • Premature epiphyseal closure in children
    • Craniosynostosis (infants)
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Causes

Long-term abuse of thyroid supplements has been reported in obese patients as a method of weight control.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Lisandro Irizarry, MD, MPH, FAAEM  Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooklyn Hospital Center; Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell School of Medicine

Lisandro Irizarry, MD, MPH, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Nadine A Youssef, MD  Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Tufts University, Department of Emergency Medicine

Nadine A Youssef, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, Emergency Medicine Residents Association, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Anton A Wray, MD, FACEP  Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College; Assistant Residency Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooklyn Hospital Center

Anton A Wray, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Jeffrey Glenn Bowman, MD, MS  Consulting Staff, Highfield MRI

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD  Regional Director of Pharmacy, Sacred Heart and St Joseph's Hospitals

John T VanDeVoort, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Fred Harchelroad, MD, FACMT, FAAEM, FACEP  Director of Medical Toxicology, Allegheny General Hospital

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Asim Tarabar, MD  Assistant Professor, Director, Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References
  1. Yamada M, Mori M. Mechanisms related to the pathophysiology and management of central hypothyroidism. Nat Clin Pract Endocrinol Metab. Dec 2008;4(12):683-94. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  2. Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Green JL, Rumack BH, Giffin SL. 2008 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 26th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). Dec 2009;47(10):911-1084. [Medline]. [Full Text].

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  5. FDA MedWatch Safety Alerts for Human Medical Products. Propylthiouracil (PTU). US Food and Drug Administration. Available at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm164162.htm. Accessed June 3, 2009.

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  8. Bosse GM, Matyunas NJ. Delayed toxidromes. J Emerg Med. Jul-Aug 1999;17(4):679-90. [Medline].

  9. Lehrner LM, Weir MR. Acute ingestions of thyroid hormones. Pediatrics. Mar 1984;73(3):313-7. [Medline].

  10. Mariotti S, Martino E, Cupini C, Lari R, Giani C, Baschieri L, et al. Low serum thyroglobulin as a clue to the diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis factitia. N Engl J Med. Aug 12 1982;307(7):410-2. [Medline].

  11. Seger D. Endocrine principles. In: Goldfrank L, ed. Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies. 5th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1994:338-90.

  12. Singh GK, Winterborn MH. Massive overdose with thyroxine,--toxicity and treatment. Eur J Pediatr. Jan 1991;150(3):217. [Medline].

  13. Tunget CL, Clark RF, Turchen SG, Manoguerra AS. Raising the decontamination level for thyroid hormone ingestions. Am J Emerg Med. Jan 1995;13(1):9-13. [Medline].

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