METHIMAZOLE-INDUCED AGRANULOCYTOSIS AND SEPSIS: WAS THYROID STORM PRESENT OR JUST BEING MIMICKED?

Apathetic Thyroid Storm with Cardiorespiratory Failure, Pulmonary Embolism, and Coagulopathy in a Young Male with Graves' Disease and Myopathy

A 38-year-old gentleman presented with thyroid storm with multiorgan involvement in the form of heart failure (thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy), respiratory failure (respiratory muscle fatigue), hepatic dysfunction, fast atrial fibrillation, pulmonary embolism, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). His Graves' disease (GD) remained undiagnosed for nearly 8 months because apart from weight loss, he has not had any other symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. The presentation of thyroid storm was atypical (apathetic thyroid storm) with features of depression and extreme lethargy without any fever, anxiety, agitation, or seizure. There were no identifiable triggers for the thyroid storm. Apart from mechanical ventilation and continuous veno-venous renal replacement therapy in the intensive care unit, he received propylthiouracil (PTU), esmolol, and corticosteroids, which were later switched to carbimazole and propranolol with steroids being tapered down. He was diagnosed with thyrotoxic myopathy which, like GD, remained undiagnosed for long (fatigability). A high index of suspicion and a multidisciplinary care are essential for good outcome in these patients.

A Rare Clinical Manifestation of Graves' Disease: Evans Syndrome and a Review of the Literature

Evans syndrome is a rare combination of autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune thrombocytopenia. Evans syndrome in cases of Graves' disease is extremely rare. The coexistence of these autoimmune diseases suggests that they may share a common pathogenic pathway. The case here presented is of a 36-year old female patient who was admitted for anemia and thrombocytopenia and was diagnosed with Evans syndrome associated with Graves' disease, and was then treated with methimazole and methylprednisolone (MPSL). During follow-up, MPSL was discontinued gradually over the course of two months. Interestingly, while Evans syndrome is characterized by frequent relapses, this patient has been in remission of Evans syndrome for approximately 1 year without MPSL therapy. The remission of Evans syndrome associated with Graves' disease in the absence of immunosuppressive therapy suggests that these 2 diseases have a common pathogenetic mechanism.