Thyrotoxicosis factitia is a rare disorder characterized by elevated levels of plasma thyroid hormones due to increased intake which can be iatrogenic, accidental, or intentional. Symptoms are similar to those in Grave's disease and diagnosis is based on history, examination findings, and by testing thyroid functions.
Presentation
Thyrotoxicosis factitia (TF) is also known as thyroxine addict or metabolic malingerer [1] [2] syndrome. It occurs in patients who are prescribed a very high dose of thyroid hormones as medication (iatrogenic); or those who consume thyroid hormone medication surreptitiously for weight loss or to increase their energy levels or to decrease sleep but deny taking the medication (intentional); or in children (accidental) or adults who consume meat containing thyroid tissue (accidental).
Clinical presentation of TF is identical to thyrotoxicosis except that patients with TF do not have a goiter (thyromegaly) and unlike patients with Grave's disease, they have neither exophthalmos nor myxedema (thickened skin over their shins). Features of thyrotoxicosis like anxiety, hyperactivity, increased perspiration, dyspnea, intolerance to heat, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, fine tremors, hyperreflexia, tremulousness, palpitations and atrial fibrillation are seen in TF too. Complications like cardiac arrhythmias, hypermetabolism, hyperpyrexia, thyroid storm and myocardial infarction have been reported in TF [3] [4].
Entire Body System
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Weight Loss
It occurs in patients who are prescribed a very high dose of thyroid hormones as medication (iatrogenic); or those who consume thyroid hormone medication surreptitiously for weight loss or to increase their energy levels or to decrease sleep but deny [symptoma.com]
In our case thyroxine was abused for weight loss and energy boost up causing junctional arrhythmias leading to cardiac arrest. [tandfonline.com]
loss preparation Clinical findings: (1) There are clinical signs of thyrotoxicosis, depending on hormone exposure, except that ophthalmopathy is absent. (2) The thyroid gland is usually not enlarged. [meducator3.net]
They may include Being nervous or irritable Mood swings Fatigue or muscle weakness Heat intolerance Trouble sleeping Hand tremors Rapid and irregular heartbeat Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea Weight loss Goiter, which is an enlarged thyroid that [icdlist.com]
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Fever
Fever should not be treated with cooling mattresses, and Tylenol is ineffective. Fever may be controlled with Demerol (25-50 mg intravenously Q 6 hours) and chlorpromazine (25-50 mg intravenously Q 6 hours). [thebigl.co]
In subacute (De Quervain's) thyroiditis symptoms patients may have fever in the initial phase and the thyroid is tender. [jiscmail.ac.uk]
Agranulocytosis occurs in 1 in 300 patients treated with thionamides and presents as a sore throat, mouth ulcers and high fever. [statpearls.com]
It usually causes fever and pain in the neck, jaw or ear. [nhs.uk]
Rarely, methimazole or propylthiouracil may cause fever, sore throat, or other signs of infection. If you develop these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. [medicinenet.com]
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Heat Intolerance
They may include Being nervous or irritable Mood swings Fatigue or muscle weakness Heat intolerance Trouble sleeping Hand tremors Rapid and irregular heartbeat Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea Weight loss Goiter, which is an enlarged thyroid that [icdlist.com]
In Europe, it affects around 1 in 2000 people annually. 1 Although thyrotoxicosis typically presents with weight loss, heat intolerance, and palpitations, there are a large variety of additional features, which manifest more variably with advancing age [doi.org]
Signs and symptoms vary between people and may include irritability, muscle weakness, sleeping problems, a fast heartbeat, heat intolerance, diarrhea, enlargement of the thyroid, and weight loss. [dbpedia.org]
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Rigor
When MMI, thyroidectomy, and 131 I cannot be used, PTU can be considered an option for a short period of time in doses of 4.7-8.6 mg/kg of body weight (116) ( B ) under rigorous clinical and laboratory monitoring (see below). [scielo.br]
Gastrointestinal
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Diarrhea
Features of thyrotoxicosis like anxiety, hyperactivity, increased perspiration, dyspnea, intolerance to heat, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, fine tremors, hyperreflexia, tremulousness, palpitations and atrial fibrillation are seen in TF too. [symptoma.com]
They may include Being nervous or irritable Mood swings Fatigue or muscle weakness Heat intolerance Trouble sleeping Hand tremors Rapid and irregular heartbeat Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea Weight loss Goiter, which is an enlarged thyroid that [icdlist.com]
Signs and symptoms vary between people and may include irritability, muscle weakness, sleeping problems, a fast heartbeat, heat intolerance, diarrhea, enlargement of the thyroid, and weight loss. [dbpedia.org]
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Increased Appetite
appetite Hyperkinesia Sweating Heat intolerance Palpitations Tremor Irritability Oligomenorrhoea Infertility Psychosis, panic Lost libido Tall kids Grave's only eye signs pretibial myoedema Grave's demopathy thyroid acropachy extreme cases; soft tissue [alancam.com]
Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include restlessness, agitation, anxiety, tremors, weight loss despite an increased appetite, sweating, rapid heart rate, intolerance to heat, and frequent bowel movements. [medicinenet.com]
These can include diarrhoea, weight loss (although around 10% develop weight gain due to increased appetite), shaking or tremor (notably in the hands), sweating, increased heart rate that can be felt by the patient (palpitations), overactivity, agitation [yourhormones.info]
appetite, heat intolerance with increased sweating, palpitations, tremor, anxiety, proximal muscle weakness, alopecia and increased fatigability. [statpearls.com]
In patients with Graves’ disease, the following symptoms and signs may be present: Symptoms weight loss heat intolerance fatigue hair loss irritability restlessness lack of concentration insomnia labile emotion palpitations exertional dyspnea increased [clinicaladvisor.com]
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Regurgitation
Mild mitral, tricuspid regurgitation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
There was mild mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. Chest X-ray showed mixed interstitial and alveolar opacities within the mid and upper lung zones, more on the left side with no cardiomegaly or mediastinal shifting. [tandfonline.com]
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Food Intolerance
He always had a fried and fatty food intolerance which produced “gas and sour stomach.” For three months he had infrequent attacks of watery diarrhea without cramps or gross blood. [kundoc.com]
Cardiovascular
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Tachycardia
Other types of arrhythmias can be sinus tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, SVT, ventricular fibrillation and rarely cardiac arrest can also happen [13–15]. [tandfonline.com]
An esmolol infusion was started to control his persistent tachycardia but this depressed his myocardial contractility. He required amrinone and noradrenaline infusions as further inotropic support. [paperity.org]
Conclusion Thyroxine induced cardiac arrhythmias can range from sinus tachycardia to ventricular fibrillation, and surprisingly it can cause junctional rhythm due to an unknown mechanism. [onlinejacc.org]
Features of MyAccess include: Remote Access Favorites Save figures into PowerPoint Download tables as PDFsGo to My Dashboard Close Sweating, weight loss or gain, anxiety, palpitations, loose stools, heat intolerance, fatigue, menstrual irregularity Tachycardia [accessmedicine.mhmedical.com]
Musculoskeletal
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Muscle Tenderness
tenderness Present Present Skin Increased perspiration Warm and moist skin Present Present Graves dermopathy Red, swollen skin on shins and top of feet Orange peel like skin called pretibial myxedema Present in Graves disease Absent Ocular Redness and [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Psychiatrical
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Denial
We are receiving denials that this provider type may not bill for t... [ Read More ] Are there new CMS CCI edits for billing out 93312, 93320 & 93325 for anesthesiologists. We are getting denials from all insurance providers when we bill for these. [coder.aapc.com]
Neurologic
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Tremor
Features of thyrotoxicosis like anxiety, hyperactivity, increased perspiration, dyspnea, intolerance to heat, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, fine tremors, hyperreflexia, tremulousness, palpitations and atrial fibrillation are seen in TF too. [symptoma.com]
They may include Being nervous or irritable Mood swings Fatigue or muscle weakness Heat intolerance Trouble sleeping Hand tremors Rapid and irregular heartbeat Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea Weight loss Goiter, which is an enlarged thyroid that [icdlist.com]
Access Favorites Save figures into PowerPoint Download tables as PDFsGo to My Dashboard Close Sweating, weight loss or gain, anxiety, palpitations, loose stools, heat intolerance, fatigue, menstrual irregularity Tachycardia; warm, moist skin; stare; tremor [accessmedicine.mhmedical.com]
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Hyperreflexia
Features of thyrotoxicosis like anxiety, hyperactivity, increased perspiration, dyspnea, intolerance to heat, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, fine tremors, hyperreflexia, tremulousness, palpitations and atrial fibrillation are seen in TF too. [symptoma.com]
and testicular malignancies may cause hyperthyroidism Heat intolerance, sweating Palpitations Pruritus Frequent bowel movements Weight loss (or gain) Menstrual irregularities Nervousness, fine resting tremor Fatigue Muscle weakness, muscle cramps, hyperreflexia [accessmedicine.mhmedical.com]
Her physician found no obvious tremors, hyperdynamic apex, or hyperreflexia on physical exam. To rule out laboratory error from the second set of tests, her physician ordered yet another round of blood work. [mdedge.com]
[…] hyperthyroid state Cardiovascular heat intolerance, sweating, and polydipsia, palpitations, Tachycardia, systolic hypertension, atrial fibrillation, weight loss Present Present Neuromuscular Tremors, anxiety, Reduced sleep, Nervousness Hyperactivity, Hyperreflexia [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
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Tremulousness
Features of thyrotoxicosis like anxiety, hyperactivity, increased perspiration, dyspnea, intolerance to heat, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, fine tremors, hyperreflexia, tremulousness, palpitations and atrial fibrillation are seen in TF too. [symptoma.com]
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include heat intolerance, irritability, weight loss, frequent bowel movements, proximal muscle weakness, tremulousness, anxiety, fever, and fatigue. Menstruating females often suffer oligomenorrhea. [thebigl.co]
Iodine is also used in preparation for subtotal thyroidectomy, in severe thyrocardiac disease, and in acute surgical emergencies Propranolol decreases tremulousness, palpitations, excessive sweating, eyelid retraction, and heart rate. [quizlet.com]
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Hand Tremor
They may include Being nervous or irritable Mood swings Fatigue or muscle weakness Heat intolerance Trouble sleeping Hand tremors Rapid and irregular heartbeat Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea Weight loss Goiter, which is an enlarged thyroid that [icdlist.com]
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Fine Tremor
Features of thyrotoxicosis like anxiety, hyperactivity, increased perspiration, dyspnea, intolerance to heat, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, fine tremors, hyperreflexia, tremulousness, palpitations and atrial fibrillation are seen in TF too. [symptoma.com]
She had mild tachycardia (112 beats/minute) and fine tremor of the hands. She had no thyroid enlargement, thyroid bruits, eye signs or pretibial myxedema. [cmaj.ca]
• A fine tremor, muscle wasting, and proximal muscle group weakness with hyperactive tendon reflexes often are present. • The thyroid usually is diffusely and symmetrically enlarged, as evidenced by an enlarged pyramidal lobe. • Overlying bruit or thrill [slideshare.net]
Workup
The initial diagnosis of TF is based on clinical suspicion. A detailed history is essential to determine medicine intake, diet, the degree of symptom progression and underlying psychiatric issues. Physical examination should take into consideration the patient's heart rate, basal metabolic rate, presence or absence of goiter, exophthalmos, and myxedema. Laboratory biochemical tests are required to determine total triiodothyronine (T3), total thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), TSH receptor, and thyroglobulin level. An elevated free thyroxine index (ratio of T-4 to T-3) [5], diminished thyroglobulin level [6] with an increased basal metabolic rate are diagnostic of TF. Patients with a positive TSH receptor and hyperthyroidism can be misdiagnosed as Grave's disease [7]. To distinguish TF from other causes of thyrotoxicosis, fecal thyroxine levels can be obtained with elevated levels confirming the diagnosis of TF [8].
An imaging study like color doppler ultrasonography is also useful to diagnose TF as it demonstrates the lack of thyroid blood flow [9]. If a patient has an elevated free thyroid hormone level with low TSH levels but is not able to provide a history of ingesting thyroid hormones, a radioactive iodine I-123 uptake is indicated and a low uptake is suggestive of TF [10].
A psychiatrist referral must be considered to exclude Munchausen syndrome [11] and other psychiatric disorders.
X-Ray
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Mediastinal Shift
Chest X-ray showed mixed interstitial and alveolar opacities within the mid and upper lung zones, more on the left side with no cardiomegaly or mediastinal shifting. [tandfonline.com]
Axis
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Left Axis Deviation
Normal sinus rhythm, left axis deviation, no abnotmality. The white blood count was 6,850 cells per c. mm. 15.5 Gm. per cent. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 10 mm. per hour (Westegren). [kundoc.com]
Other Test Results
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Increased Basal Metabolic Rate
An elevated free thyroxine index (ratio of T-4 to T-3), diminished thyroglobulin level with an increased basal metabolic rate are diagnostic of TF. Patients with a positive TSH receptor and hyperthyroidism can be misdiagnosed as Grave's disease. [symptoma.com]
basal metabolic rate and tissue thermogenesis. [statpearls.com]
ACTIONS OF THYROID HORMONE • Increases oxygen consumption • Increases carbohydrate and lipid catabolism • Stimulates protein synthesis • Increases basal metabolic rate • Increases thermogenesis • Increases expression of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL [quizlet.com]
Rhythm
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Early Repolarization
Thyroxine causes early repolarization changes and also increases coronary vascular spasm. A study conducted on 403 patients with various kinds of hyperthyroidism evaluated the types of arrhythmias [16]. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Other Pathologies
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Brain Edema
It was not considered safe by the neurologists to bring her serum sodium level down quickly, as it could worsen her brain edema. [tandfonline.com]
Treatment
Make the best clinical decisions with an enhanced emphasis on evidence-based practice and expert opinions on treatment strategies. Zero in on the most relevant and useful references with the aid of a more focused, concise bibliography. [books.google.com]
Treatment is with medicines, radioiodine therapy, or thyroid surgery. No single treatment works for everyone. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [Learn More] [icdlist.com]
He had been refractory to thyroxine treatment and now required 0.3 mg thyroxine daily. On admission, he was hypertensive, tachycardic and found to be thyrotoxic secondary to excess thyroid hormone ingestion. Treatment with iopanoic acid was started. [paperity.org]
Prognosis
Historical Perspective Classification Pathophysiology Causes Differentiating Thyrotoxicosis factitia from Other Diseases Epidemiology and Demographics Risk Factors Screening Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis Natural History Complications Prognosis [wikidoc.org]
After defining the dysfunction or disease, the text presents the epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, clinical features, first and second level tests for diagnosis, first and second line therapies, prognosis, and recommendations for follow-up. [books.google.com]
PMID: 8001216 Prognosis Arlt EM, Keller T, Wittmann H, Monticelli F Leg Med (Tokyo) 2012 May;14(3):154-6. Epub 2012 Feb 16 doi: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2012.01.003. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prognosis Good with treatment but remission and relapse common Increased incidence of other autoimmune diseases: SLE, T1DM, Addison’s Treatment Medical B-blockers for rapid symptom control Titration of carbimazole (reduces T3 and T4 by inhibiting thyroid [alancam.com]
Etiology
Certain conditions have both an underlying etiology and multiple body system manifestations due to the underlying etiology. [icd10coded.com]
These findings well correlate with the etiology of thyrotoxicosis factitia and may represent an additional, useful tool to confirm the diagnosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
M.: Auricular Fibrillation; Its Etiology, Age Incidence and Productron by Digitalis Therapy! Am. J. M. SC. 183:35, 1932. Stroud, W. D., Laplace, L. B., and Ratsinger, J. A.: The Etiology, Prognosis, and Treatment of Auricular Fibrillation, Am. J. M. [kundoc.com]
Although the etiology of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy remains unclear in most cases, we would like to bring to the readers' attention an unusual cause of this stress cardiomyopathy. [kidney-international.org]
Epidemiology
After defining the dysfunction or disease, the text presents the epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, clinical features, first and second level tests for diagnosis, first and second line therapies, prognosis, and recommendations for follow-up. [books.google.com]
Historical Perspective Classification Pathophysiology Causes Differentiating Thyrotoxicosis factitia from Other Diseases Epidemiology and Demographics Risk Factors Screening Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis Natural History Complications Prognosis [wikidoc.org]
Epidemiology 1% of the population peak incidence 30-50y F M Most common cause of endogenous hyperthyroidism Aetiology Unknown Genetic predisposition: HLA-DR3, -B8, DR2 CTLA-4 polymorphisms Potentially environmental factors: viral or bacterial infection [alancam.com]
Pathophysiology
من الصفحات Werner & Ingbar’s The Thyroid: A Fundamental and Clinical Text, 10th Edition has been extensively revised and streamlined to deliver the most comprehensive coverage of the thyroid including anatomy, development, biochemistry, physiology, pathophysiology [books.google.com]
Historical Perspective Classification Pathophysiology Causes Differentiating Thyrotoxicosis factitia from Other Diseases Epidemiology and Demographics Risk Factors Screening Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis Natural History Complications Prognosis [wikidoc.org]
University of Thessaloniki Hipokratio Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece Summary Clinical nuclear medicine has been developed in parallel with thyroidology, providing sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic methods and a deep insight into thyroid physiology and pathophysiology [nuclmed.gr]
912 páginas Werner & Ingbar’s The Thyroid: A Fundamental and Clinical Text, 10th Edition has been extensively revised and streamlined to deliver the most comprehensive coverage of the thyroid including anatomy, development, biochemistry, physiology, pathophysiology [books.google.es]
Prevention
Categories M.D.C MDC Category Not Assigned For This ICD Code E05.4 Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Groups MS-DRG MS-DRG Category Not Assigned For This ICD Code E05.4 Clinical Classifications Software CCS CCS Category Not Assigned For This ICD Code E05.4 Prevention [medicbind.com]
Rapidly find the answers you need with separate sections on diseases and disorders, differential diagnosis, clinical algorithms, laboratory results, and clinical preventive services, plus an at-a-glance format that uses cross-references, outlines, bullets [books.google.com]
Nature. 1997; 390: 88–91 Crossref PubMed Scopus (979) Google ScholarSee all References This strategy counteracts the proapoptotic effect of excessive β1-adrenergic Gs protein pathway activation and seems to act as a physiological balance to prevent catecholamine-mediated [kidney-international.org]
Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis Natural History Complications Prognosis Diagnosis Diagnostic Criteria History and Symptoms Physical Examination Laboratory Findings Imaging Findings Other Diagnostic Studies Treatment Medical Therapy Surgery Prevention [wikidoc.org]
patients with thyroid cancer who have clinicopathologic parameters that warrant thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression to prevent cancer recurrence) or inadvertent (e.g., an excessive dose of thyroid hormone prescribed for hypothyroidism). [aafp.org]
References
- Harvey RF. Thyroxine ‘‘addicts.’’ Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1973;2:35–36.
- Gorman CA, Wahner HW, Tauxe WN. Metabolic malingerers: patients who deliberately induce or perpetuate a hypermetabolic or hypometabolic state. Am J Med. 1970;48:708–714.
- Yoon SJ, Kim DM, Kim JU, et al. A case of thyroid storm due to thyrotoxicosis factitia. Yonsei Med J. 2003;44 :351–354.
- Locker GJ, Kotzmann H, Frey B, et al. Factitious hyperthyroidism causing acute myocardial infarction. Thyroid. 1995;5:465–467.
- Pearce EN. Diagnosis and management of thyrotoxicosis. BMJ. 2006 Jun 10; 332 (7554): 1369 -1379
- Mariotti S, Martino E, Cupini C, et al. Low serum thyroglobulin as a clue to the diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis factitia. N Engl J Med. 1982;307:410–412.
- Jahagirdar VR, Strouhal P, Holder G, Gama R, Singh BM. Thyrotoxicosis factitia masquerading as recurrent Graves’ disease: Endogenous antibody immunoassay interference, a pitfall for the unwary. Ann Clin Biochem. 2008; 45: 325-7
- Bouillon R, Verresen L, Staels F, Bex M, De Vos P, De Roo M. The measurement of fecal thyroxine in the diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis factitia. Thyroid. 1993;3:101–103.
- Bogazzi F, Bartalena L, Vitti P, Rago T, Brogioni S, Martino E. Color flow Doppler sonography in thyrotoxicosis factitia. J Endocrinol Invest. 1996;19: 603–606.
- Braverman LE. Evaluation of thyroid status in patients with thyrotoxicosis. Clin Chem. 1996;42:174–178
- Mittra ES, Niederkohr RD, Rodriguez C, et al. Uncommon causes of thyrotoxicosis. J Nucl Med 2008; 49:265-278