scholarly journals Thyroid Storm: A Diagnostic Conundrum

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A963-A963
Author(s):  
Mashrutee S Maharaul ◽  
Maya P Raghuwanshi ◽  
Rehan Umar ◽  
Reza Pishdad

Abstract Thyroid storm is a life threatening complication of hyperthyroidism which comes with multi-system involvement and is associated with a mortality of 8-25% despite modern advancements in treatment and supportive measures. A 47 year old woman with past medical history of hypertension and morbid obesity presented to the emergency room with 3 week history of shortness of breath and chest pain associated with productive cough, bilateral leg swelling, orthopnea and palpitations. Upon evaluation, she was in moderate respiratory distress, restless, tachypneic and tachycardic. She had bilateral proptosis and visible jugular venous pulsation along-with bibasilar crackles and pitting edema bilaterally. Lab tests revealed BNP 539 pg/ml and D-Dimer 6401 ng/ml. ECG showed atrial flutter, Chest X-Ray showed bilateral pleural effusions, and CT Chest was negative for pulmonary embolism but revealed anterior mediastinal mass, differential of which included thymoma or teratoma. She was admitted to CCU for aggressive diuresis, control of heart rate and was started on anticoagulation. A review of medical records from outside hospital revealed patient was hyperthyroid 8 months ago, however, was not on any medications. Given a Burch-Wartofsky score >70, she was started on IV hydrocortisone and cholestyramine for severe thyrotoxicosis. Endocrinology was consulted and added PTU to management. TFTs revealed a TSH 0.006 IU/ml, FT4 4 ng/dL and T3 2.5 ng/ml. Bedside ECHO showed LVEF of 14% with global hypokinesis and thyroid ultrasound revealed an enlarged, heterogenous thyroid with a solid, isoechoic, calcified left lobe nodule measuring 0.8 x 0.4 x 0.5 cm. Her serum TSI and thyrotropin receptor antibodies were elevated at 17.20 IU/L and 20.20 IU/L, respectively. She responded to treatment and was discharged on metoprolol, losartan, spironolactone, and furosemide for new-onset heart failure, apixaban for atrial flutter, and PTU and cholestyramine for hyperthyroidism, with Cardiology and Endocrinology follow-ups. Thyroid disease is a common illness affecting 9 to 15 percent of the adults. Thyrotoxicosis refers to the clinical syndrome of hyper-metabolism due to excessive amount of circulating thyroid hormones. The incidence of thyroid storm is 0.57 to 0.76 per 100,000 people per year in the US. It most commonly occurs in women and is more common in patients with underlying Grave’s Disease. The exact underlying mechanism that leads to thyroid storm is not well understood but adrenergic activation seems to have a major role. Our patient had long standing untreated hyperthyroidism with a solid nodule which led to the crisis. The most common cause of death is cardiopulmonary failure and hence treatment should be initiated as soon as diagnosis is suspected owing to high mortality. Awareness of thyroid pathology affecting the heart is important to remember in evaluating the etiology of heart failure in patients.

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (21) ◽  
pp. 1878-1901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Zhou ◽  
Jian Wang ◽  
Zhuo Meng ◽  
Shuang Zhou ◽  
Jiayu Peng ◽  
...  

Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) is a complex clinical syndrome with a high incidence worldwide. Although various types of pharmacological and device therapies are available for CHF, the prognosis is not ideal, for which, the control of increased Heart Rate (HR) is critical. Recently, a bradycardic agent, ivabradine, is found to reduce HR by inhibiting the funny current (If). The underlying mechanism states that ivabradine can enter the Hyperpolarization-activated Cyclic Nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels and bind to the intracellular side, subsequently inhibiting the If. This phenomenon can prolong the slow spontaneous phase in the diastolic depolarization, and thus, reduce HR. The clinical trials demonstrated the significant effects of the drug on reducing HR and improving the symptoms of CHF with fewer adverse effects. This review primarily introduces the chemical features and pharmacological characteristics of ivabradine and the mechanism of treating CHF. Also, some expected therapeutic effects on different diseases were also concluded. However, ivabradine, as a typical If channel inhibitor, necessitates additional research to verify its pharmacological functions.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Lu ◽  
Jack Chan ◽  
Zejia Yu ◽  
Paula Anzenberg ◽  
Mikhail Torosoff

Background: The CHADS-VASC score does not incorporate renal dysfunction in stroke risk assessment in patients with atrial fibrillation and the prevalence of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) in patients with concurrent CHF and CKD is not well investigated. Objective: Evaluate the prevalence of history of stroke, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter in patients with CHF and CKD. Methods: Data from the single institution Get With The Guidelines- Heart Failure (GWG-HF) cohort of 2938 consecutive inpatients with known GFR was utilized. CHADS-VASC score was calculated from the GWG-HF variables. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as GFR <60 ml/min. Results: An overwhelming majority (95%) of GWG-HF patients had elevated >1 CHADS-VASC score, which was also significantly more common in patients with CKD (97.6% vs. 91.7% in patients without CKD, p<0.0001). Average CHADS-VASC score was also significantly increased in patients with CKD (4+/-1.3 vs. 3.3+/-1.4, p<0.0001). Furthermore, CKD was associated with increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation and/or flutter (45.6% vs. 35.3%, p<0.0001) and stroke history (17.5% vs. 12.3%, p=0.002). When stroke and TIA histories were removed from the CHADS-VASC score ("CHAD-VASC score"), the remaining variables were strongly predictive of stroke or TIA (14.2% vs. 3.8%, p<0.0001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, both CHAD-VASC score (OR 2.6, 95%CI 1.3-5.4, p=0.009) and CKD (OR 1.5, 95%CI 1.2-1.8, p=0.001) were associated significantly increased odds of prior stroke or TIA. Conclusions: In patients admitted with heart failure, CKD is associated with increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter as well as increased prevalence of CVA/TIA. Further prospective studies are warranted to examine whether CKD history should be included in stroke risk assessment in patients with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, in conjunction with existing risk assessment frameworks.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Bibhuti B Das ◽  
Divya Shakti ◽  
Jyothsna Akam-Venkata ◽  
Obiageli Obi ◽  
Michael D Weiland ◽  
...  

Abstract We report a case of thyroid storm precipitated by SARS-CoV-2 infection in an adolescent girl with history of Graves disease and dilated cardiomyopathy. This case highlights that SARS-CoV-2 infection can potentially trigger a thyrotoxicosis crisis and acute decompensated heart failure in a patient with underlying thyroid disease and myocardial dysfunction even in the absence of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. We systematically reviewed the thyrotoxicosis cases with SARS-CoV-2 infection and described its impact on pre-existing dilated cardiomyopathy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-15
Author(s):  
N. V. Safonov ◽  
V. Yu. Baranovich ◽  
A. G. Faibushevich

Highlights. Cavatricuspid isthmus ablation with pulmonary vein isolation is indicated to all patients with documented or intraoperatively induced typical atrial flutter. The preventive cavatricuspid isthmus ablation remains an issue of concern. The article discusses the risk factors for the onset of typical atrial flutter pulmonary vein isolation.Aim. To determine the need for preventive ablation of the cavatricuspid isthmus in patients referred to elective pulmonary vein isolation.Methods. 632 patients (the mean age of 63 years) were enrolled in a single-center retrospective study between 2015 to 2018. The inclusion criteria were as follows: paroxysmal AF, absence of documented AFL. All patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation. The exclusion criteria were as follows: a history of typical or AFL. The endpoints included major cardiovascular events, reoperations, occurrence of AFL. The primary endpoint was the absence of paroxysms of AF and AFL during the blind period. The secondary endpoint was the absence of AF paroxysms documented on the ECG or according to Holter monitoring data. The follow-up period was 12 months.Results. During the blind period, AF paroxysms were recorded in 148 (23.7%) patients. The efficiency of the operation within one year was 78.2% (494 patients). 138 patients (21.8%) had recurrent tachycardia. Of them, 28 patients (4.4%) were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and others (17.4%) had AFL. Risk factors for AFL included COPD found in 18 patients (64.29%) (OR 25.4; CI 95%; 10.991-58.609), chronic heart failure in 20 patients (71.43%) (OR 7.434; CI 95%; 3.209-17.225), prolonged pr interval in 18 patients (64.29%) (OR 5.77; CI 95%; 2.288-14.5), a history of myocardial infarction in 6 patients (28.57%) (OR 6.591; CI 95%; 2.447-17.751), and smoking in 7 patients (67.86%) (OR 11.034; CI 95%; 4.849-25.112).Conclusion. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic heart failure, a history of myocardial infarction, and smoking prolong right atrial conduction time, thereby increasing the risk of AFL in the postoperative period. Preventive cavatricuspid isthmus ablation should be considered in patients with risk factors for developing AFL.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A941-A941
Author(s):  
Theresa N Lanham ◽  
Farah Hena Morgan

Abstract Introduction: Thyroid storm, life-threatening hyperthyroidism, commonly presents with tachyarrhythmias. We present a case of hyperthyroid-induced atrial flutter, refractory to beta-blockade, successfully treated with electrical cardioversion (CV) while biochemically hyperthyroid. Case Description: A 49-year-old female with history of asthma and no family or personal history of thyroid disease presented with new-onset atrial flutter and heart failure. The patient endorsed weight loss, hot flashes, anxiousness, tremors, and palpitations. She denied gastrointestinal symptoms or visual changes. She was afebrile with normal mentation. Heart rate was found to be 260 beats per minute (bpm) in atrial flutter. Exam demonstrated bilateral lower extremity edema, and profound exophthalmos. Labs were remarkable for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) &lt;0.01 [ref: 0.27-4.2] uIU/mL, free T4 4.5 [ref: 0.8-1.8] ng/dL, free T3 15.5 [ref: 2.0-4.4] pg/mL, thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) of 379 [ref: &lt;140] % and a thyroid receptor antibody (TRab) of 10.02 [ref:&lt;=2.0] IU/L. White blood cell count and liver function tests were normal. Chest x-ray (CXR) showed bilateral pulmonary edema and ultrasound showed an enlarged heterogeneous hypervascular thyroid gland. The patient was initially started on Methimazole 30 mg daily and Metoprolol 25 mg every six hours but on day two, the patient was transitioned to Propylthiouracil (PTU) 250 mg every 6 hours given continued atrial flutter and concern for thyroid storm given Burch-Wartofsky score was 50. She was also given potassium iodide for three days. Cardioversion was deferred, as it was felt that the severity of thyrotoxicosis would limit success. On day six, TFTs were improved with a free T4 of 2.2, free T3 3.6. On day 8, because of continued tachycardia &gt;130 bpm with limitation of beta-blockade due to hypotension, she underwent a cardioversion which was successful. On discharge, free T4 was 1.7 and she was transitioned to Methimazole 40 mg daily. Discussion: Thyroid storm has a mortality rate of 10-20%, often related to tachyarrhythmias which can be difficult to treat during a hyperthyroid state. Tachycardia should initially be treated with beta-blockade and antithyroid therapy. Amiodarone is avoided due to concern for worsening hyperthyroidism. A literature review suggests that electrical CV should not be attempted until a patient is euthyroid for four months, as a majority will spontaneously revert once thyroid levels normalize. Conversely, other studies have found that the rate of recurrence of atrial fibrillation between clinically hyperthyroid and euthyroid patients was not statistically significant, suggesting CV should not be delayed until a patient is euthyroid. This suggests that further studies need to be completed to better elucidate appropriate timing in hyperthyroid patient’s refractory to pharmacologic treatment alone.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Ali Vazir ◽  
Martin R Cowie ◽  
◽  

Acute heart failure – the rapid onset of, or change in, signs and/or symptoms of heart failure requiring urgent treatment – is a serious clinical syndrome, associated with high mortality and healthcare costs. History, physical examination and early 2D and Doppler echocardiography are crucial to the proper assessment of patients, and will help determine the appropriate monitoring and management strategy. Most patients are elderly and have considerable co-morbidity. Clinical assessment is key to monitoring progress, but a number of clinical techniques – including simple Doppler and echocardiographic tools, pulse contour analysis and impedance cardiography – can help assess the response to therapy. A pulmonary artery catheter is not a routine monitoring tool, but can be very useful in patients with complex physiology, in those who fail to respond to therapy as would be anticipated, or in those being considered for mechanical intervention. As yet, the serial measurement of plasma natriuretic peptides is of limited value, but it does have a role in diagnosis and prognostication. Increasingly, the remote monitoring of physiological variables by completely implanted devices is possible, but the place of such technology in clinical practice is yet to be clearly established.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Huang ◽  
C Liu

Abstract Background Lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) at admission or discharge was associated with poor outcomes in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, the optimal long-term SBP for HFpEF was less clear. Purpose To examine the association of long-term SBP and all-cause mortality among patients with HFpEF. Methods We analyzed participants from the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) study. Participants had at least two SBP measurements of different times during the follow-up were included. Long-term SBP was defined as the average of all SBP measurements during the follow-up. We stratified participants into four groups according to long-term SBP: &lt;120mmHg, ≥120mmHg and &lt;130mmHg, ≥130mmHg and &lt;140mmHg, ≥140mmHg. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all-cause mortality associated with SBP level. To assess for nonlinearity, we fitted restricted cubic spline models of long-term SBP. Sensitivity analyses were conducted by confining participants with history of hypertension or those with left ventricular ejection fraction≥50%. Results The 3338 participants had a mean (SD) age of 68.5 (9.6) years; 51.4% were women, and 89.3% were White. The median long-term SBP was 127.3 mmHg (IQR 121–134.2, range 77–180.7). Patients in the SBP of &lt;120mmHg group were older age, less often female, less often current smoker, had higher estimated glomerular filtration rate, less often had history of hypertension, and more often had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and atrial fibrillation. After multivariable adjustment, long-term SBP of 120–130mmHg and 130–140mmHg was associated with a lower risk of mortality during a mean follow-up of 3.3 years (HR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.49–0.85, P=0.001; HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.88, P=0.004, respectively); long-term SBP of &lt;120mmHg had similar risk of mortality (HR 1.03, 95% CI: 0.78–1.36, P=0.836), compared with long-term SBP of ≥140mmHg. Findings from restricted cubic spline analysis demonstrate that there was J-shaped association between long-term SBP and all-cause mortality (P=0.02). These association was essentially unchanged in sensitivity analysis. Conclusions Among patients with HFpEF, long-term SBP showed a J-shaped pattern with all-cause mortality and a range of 120–140 mmHg was significantly associated with better outcomes. Future randomized controlled trials need to evaluate optimal long-term SBP goal in patients with HFpEF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Grant (2019M660229 and 2019TQ0380)


Author(s):  
Khalaf Kridin ◽  
Jennifer E. Hundt ◽  
Ralf J. Ludwig ◽  
Kyle T. Amber ◽  
Dana Tzur Bitan ◽  
...  

AbstractThe association between bullous pemphigoid (BP) and melanoma is yet to be investigated. We aimed to assess assess the bidirectional association between BP and melanoma and to delineate the epidemiological features of patients with both diagnoses. A population-based cohort study was performed comparing BP patients (n = 3924) with age-, sex- and ethnicity-matched control subjects (n = 19,280) with regard to incident cases of melanoma. A case–control design was additionally adopted to estimate the risk of BP in individuals with a preexisting diagnosis of melanoma. The prevalence of preexisting melanoma was higher in patients with BP than in control subjects (1.5% vs. 1.0%, respectively; P = 0.004). A history of melanoma confers a 50% increase in the risk of subsequent BP (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.14–2.06). This risk was higher among males (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.09–2.54) and individuals older than 80 years (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.11–2.38), and persisted after adjustment for multiple putative confounders including PD-1/PDL-1 antagonists (adjusted OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.14–2.06). Conversely, the risk of melanoma among patients with BP was slightly elevated, but did not reach the level of statistical significance (adjusted HR 1.13; 95% CI 0.73–1.74). Patients with a dual diagnosis of BP and melanoma were older at the onset of BP and had lower body mass index. A history of melanoma is associated with a 50% increase in the incidence of subsequent BP. Physicians managing patients with both conditions should be aware of this association. Further research is warranted to reveal the underlying mechanism of these findings.


Author(s):  
S. Sze ◽  
P. Pellicori ◽  
J. Zhang ◽  
J. Weston ◽  
I. B. Squire ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Frailty is common in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and is associated with poor outcomes. The natural history of frail patients with CHF is unknown. Methods Frailty was assessed using the clinical frailty scale (CFS) in 467 consecutive patients with CHF (67% male, median age 76 years, median NT-proBNP 1156 ng/L) attending a routine follow-up visit. Those with CFS > 4 were classified as frail. We investigated the relation between frailty and treatments, hospitalisation and death in patients with CHF. Results 206 patients (44%) were frail. Of 291 patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HeFREF), those who were frail (N = 117; 40%) were less likely to receive optimal treatment, with many not receiving a renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitor (frail: 25% vs. non-frail: 4%), a beta-blocker (16% vs. 8%) or a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (50% vs 41%). By 1 year, there were 56 deaths and 322 hospitalisations, of which 25 (45%) and 198 (61%), respectively, were due to non-cardiovascular (non-CV) causes. Most deaths (N = 46, 82%) and hospitalisations (N = 215, 67%) occurred in frail patients. Amongst frail patients, 43% of deaths and 64% of hospitalisations were for non-CV causes; 58% of cardiovascular (CV) deaths were due to advancing HF. Among non-frail patients, 50% of deaths and 57% of hospitalisations were for non-CV causes; all CV deaths were due to advancing HF. Conclusion Frailty in patients with HeFREF is associated with sub-optimal medical treatment. Frail patients are more likely to die or be admitted to hospital, but whether frail or not, many events are non-CV. Graphical abstract


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