Thyrotoxicosis

Endocrinology

Clinical state from excess thyroid hormone, most often Graves' disease.

Causes

  • Graves' (autoimmune TRAb)
  • Toxic multinodular goitre
  • Toxic adenoma
  • Thyroiditis
  • Iodine, amiodarone

Clinical features

  • Heat intolerance, sweating
  • Weight loss, palpitations
  • Tremor, anxiety
  • Diarrhoea, oligomenorrhoea

Examination

  • Goitre ± bruit
  • Tremor, warm peripheries
  • Lid lag, ophthalmopathy (Graves')
  • AF, hyperreflexia

Investigations

  • TSH ↓, fT4/fT3 ↑
  • TRAb, anti-TPO
  • Thyroid USS, uptake scan if cause unclear

Management

  • β-blocker symptom control
  • Carbimazole (block-and-replace or titration)
  • Definitive: radioiodine or thyroidectomy
  • Treat thyroid storm: PTU, propranolol, hydrocortisone, Lugol's iodine

Complications

  • Thyroid storm
  • AF, HF
  • Osteoporosis
  • Ophthalmopathy

Clinical pearls

  • Carbimazole agranulocytosis — warn re sore throat
  • PTU preferred in 1st trimester, carbimazole after

Educational — verify locally.

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