Document Detail


Lethal thyroid storm after uncontrolled intake of liothyronine in order to lose weight.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20145940     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Thyroid hormones are sometimes used for purposes for which they are not approved. Reasons for off-label use can be overweight, prevailing depressive mood, or various somatic symptoms. Information about the intake of thyroid hormones in order to lose weight can be easily obtained from inappropriate/nonmedical websites. The objective of this case report is to describe the first case of a lethal abuse of liothyronine. The case was a 29-year-old male (BMI 32) without relevant illnesses. An autopsy was performed and followed by histological, toxicological, and clinical chemistry examinations. The autopsy revealed no relevant pathology. Histology showed multiple areas of focal cell necrosis in the myocardium and signs of acute heart failure including severe edema of the lungs; the follicles of the thyroid gland were markedly plump. Postmortem laboratory results indicated lethal liothyronine intoxication. Despite prevailing opinion, uncontrolled intake of liothyronine can cause lethal thyroid storm in a euthyroid patient without manifested cardiac illnesses.
Authors:
Benno Hartung; Matthias Schott; Thomas Daldrup; Stefanie Ritz-Timme
Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article     Date:  2010-02-10
Journal Detail:
Title:  International journal of legal medicine     Volume:  124     ISSN:  1437-1596     ISO Abbreviation:  Int. J. Legal Med.     Publication Date:  2010 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-10-12     Completed Date:  2011-01-31     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9101456     Medline TA:  Int J Legal Med     Country:  Germany    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  637-40     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany. benno.hartung@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Autopsy
Fatal Outcome
Humans
Male
Myocardium / pathology
Necrosis
Off-Label Use
Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis*
Thyroid Crisis / chemically induced*,  diagnosis,  pathology*
Thyroid Gland / pathology
Triiodothyronine / poisoning*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
6893-02-3/Triiodothyronine

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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