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Plasmapheresis: An adjunct to medical management of severe hyperthyroidism
Author(s) -
Braithwaite Susan S.,
Brooks Marion H.,
Collins Sonia,
Bermes Edward W.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of clinical apheresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.697
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1098-1101
pISSN - 0733-2459
DOI - 10.1002/jca.2920030208
Subject(s) - medicine , plasmapheresis , propylthiouracil , triiodothyronine , myasthenia gravis , thyroiditis , subacute thyroiditis , endocrinology , thyroid , immunology , antibody
A woman with hyperthyroidism and myasthenia gravis developed respiratory failure in association with radiation‐induced thyroiditis. Treatment with steroids, propylthiouracil, propranolol, iodine, and plasmapheresis was associated with dramatic reduction in serum triiodothyronine (T3), serum thyroxine (T4), and thyroglobulin levels and prompt recovery of the patient. The medications that this patient received have been shown to cause an abrupt decline in serum T3 levels with little or no effect on the serum T4 concentration. The 56% decline in serum T4 observed in this patient during the first 24 hours of therapy suggests that plasmapheresis may be a useful adjunct to medical therapy in selected patients with severe hyperthyroidism.