03 February 2015 : Case report
Thyroid Storm Caused by a Chinese Herb Contaminated with Thyroid Hormones
Management of emergency care, Rare disease, Adverse events of drug therapy, Educational Purpose (only if useful for a systematic review or synthesis)
Maude St-OngeBDEF, Hilde VandenbergheCE, Margaret ThompsonDEDOI: 10.12659/AJCR.892305
Am J Case Rep 2015; 16:57-59
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We report a case of thyroid storm caused by consuming a Chinese herb contaminated with thyroid hormones.
CASE REPORT: A 70-year-old man presented to an emergency department after 2 days of nausea, vomiting, and weakness. Three days previously, he had started taking Cordyceps powder and “Flower Man Sang Hung” as recommended by his Chinese physician. Following admission, the patient deteriorated and was eventually diagnosed with thyroid storm complicated by rapid atrial fibrillation requiring cardioversion, intubation, and intensive care admission. The analysis of the Chinese herb “Flower Man Sang Hung” was positive for levothyroxine. The patient was extubated 11 days after admission and discharged to a rehabilitation centre after 17 days of hospitalization. The Chinese medicine physician was informed of the events.
CONCLUSIONS: Herbal products can be the source of illness, medication interactions, and contamination. Awareness should be raised among Chinese medicine physicians, allopathic physicians, and their patients. Clinicians should also have a low threshold of suspicion to seek laboratory analysis of suspect substances when the cause of the clinical presentation is unclear.
Keywords: Drugs, Chinese Herbal - poisoning, Thyroid Crisis - etiology, Thyroid Hormones - blood, Thyroxine - poisoning
In Press
05 Mar 2024 : Case report
Simultaneous Transcatheter Closure of a Ventricular Septal Defect and Pulmonary Valvuloplasty: A Case ReportAm J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942032
06 Mar 2024 : Case report
Successful Healing of Periapical Pathology with Partial Pulpotomy in a Mature Permanent Molar: A Case ReportAm J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942937
12 Mar 2024 : Case report
Successful Treatment of Lithium-Induced Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus with Celecoxib: A Promising Therapeu...Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.943244
13 Mar 2024 : Case report
Recurrent Marginal Zone Lymphoma with Bone Marrow Involvement Detected by ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT and Biopsy: A Diag...Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.943275
Most Viewed Current Articles
07 Mar 2024 : Case report
Neurocysticercosis Presenting as Migraine in the United StatesDOI :10.12659/AJCR.943133
Am J Case Rep 2024; 25:e943133
10 Jan 2022 : Case report
A Report on the First 7 Sequential Patients Treated Within the C-Reactive Protein Apheresis in COVID (CACOV...DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935263
Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935263
19 Jul 2022 : Case report
Atlantoaxial Subluxation Secondary to SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Rare Orthopedic Complication from COVID-19DOI :10.12659/AJCR.936128
Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e936128
23 Feb 2022 : Case report
Penile Necrosis Associated with Local Intravenous Injection of CocaineDOI :10.12659/AJCR.935250
Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935250