Thyroid storm is a life-threatening endocrine emergency that can develop in patients with untreated or severe thyrotoxicosis, including those with subacute thyroiditis. This scenario involves subacute thyroiditis complicated by thyroid storm — a critical escalation marked by severe, systemic thyrotoxicosis across multiple organ systems.
The defining clinical picture includes hyperpyrexia, tachycardia, severe agitation, confusion, vomiting, and multiorgan dysfunction — exaggerated systemic manifestations of thyrotoxicosis that signal a medical emergency requiring urgent, targeted intervention beyond routine thyroiditis management.
This scenario calls for aggressive multimodal therapy combining agents that address adrenergic overactivation with interventions targeting peripheral hormone dynamics, alongside intensive supportive care. The complete structured regimen — including the full sequence, specific agents, and management of complications — is available in the protocol below.
DOI: 10.3390/jcm14093233
Although uncommon, thyroid storm (TS) represents a life-threatening endocrine emergency that may develop in patients with untreated or severe thyrotoxicosis, including those with subacute thyroiditis (SAT).
It is characterized by exaggerated systemic manifestations of thyrotoxicosis, such as hyperpyrexia, tachycardia, severe agitation, confusion, vomiting, and multiorgan dysfunction.
Treatment requires aggressive multimodal therapy: beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol) to control adrenergic symptoms, corticosteroids to reduce peripheral conversion of T4 to T3, and supportive care to manage complications.
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