[Thyrotoxic crisis in a patient with Graves' disease]

A 33-year-old man presented with diarrhoea, dyspnoea, palpitations, fever and shock. One year and a half before admission, Graves'-hyperthyroidism had been diagnosed, for which he was treated with thiamazole and levothyroxine as block-replacement therapy. A diagnosis of thyrotoxic crisis, precipitated by lack of compliance with antithyroid drug therapy and possibly an underlying infection, was made. Euthyroidism was achieved with propylthiouracil, potassium iodide, corticosteroids and propranolol. However, the propylthiouracil had to be stopped due to agranulocytosis, after which hyperthyroidism recurred. An emergency thyroidectomy was then performed; the patient recovered completely. Thyrotoxic crisis is a rare, potentially life-threatening disease in patients with underlying un(der)treated hyperthyroidism. It is characterised by fever, tachycardia, and neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms.