A Case of Thyrotoxic Storm Triggered by Virgorous Palpation of Thyroid Gland After Delivery.

Chung, Sung Jin; Hwang, Jung Hye; Park, Yong Soo; Kim, Dong Sun; Hahm, Joon Soo; Kim, Tae Wha; Ahn, You Hern

Obstet Gynecol Sci > Volume 47(2); 2004 > Article

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2004;47(2):398-400.
Published online: February 1, 2004

A Case of Thyrotoxic Storm Triggered by Virgorous Palpation of Thyroid Gland After Delivery.

Sung Jin Chung, Jung Hye Hwang, Yong Soo Park, Dong Sun Kim, Joon Soo Hahm, Tae Wha Kim, You Hern Ahn

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Although the mortality has been reduced with aggressive approach, thyrotoxic storm or crisis is still a life-threatening condition and usually triggered by preeclampsia, placenta previa, congestive heart failure, infections and induction of labor during pregnancy. We report here a 28-year-old pregnant woman suspicious of placenta previa without a previous history of hyperthyroidism was admitted to the hospital with vaginal spotting and labor. After receiving a Cesarean section, thyrotoxic manifestations were developed and she became stable with antithyroid therapy. The second attack of thyrotoxic storm was presented after a thyroid ultrasonographic study. It appears that the vigorous examination of thyroid gland carries a significant risk of thyrotoxic crisis in poorly controlled hyperthyroidism.

Keywords: Thyrotoxic storm; Vigorous palpation