Thyroid Storm

Introduction:

Thyroid storm, also referred to as thyrotoxic crisis, oraccelerated hyperthyroidism is an acute, life-threatening, hypermetabolic state induced by excessive release of
thyroid hormones (THs) in individuals with thyrotoxicosis.[1]

1. Sarlis NJ, Gourgiotis L. Thyroid emergencies. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2003; 4:129.

• Thyroid storm may be the initial presentation of thyrotoxicosis in undiagnosed or incompletely treated patients
• It is usually occurring in association with Graves disease but sometimes with toxic multinodular goiter and solitary toxic adenoma
• It is often precipitated by an acute event

Epidemiology

• It is a rare presentation of hyperthyroidism
• As per the Japanese National Survey  conducted between 2004 and 2008, the incidence of thyroid storm was 0.2 per 100,000 population per year.[1]
• It is about 0.22% of all thyrotoxic patients and 5.4% of hospitalized thyrotoxicosis patients
•  The average age of people with thyroid storm was 42 to 43 years
•  The female to male ratio for incidence of thyroid storm was about 3:1

1. Akamizu T. Thyroid Storm: A Japanese Perspective. Thyroid 2018; 28:32.