Open AccessIodine‐Induced Thyrotoxicosis After Ingestion of Kelp‐Containing Tea
Author(s) -
Müssig Karsten,
Thamer Claus,
Bares Roland,
Lipp HansPeter,
Häring HansUlrich,
Gallwitz Baptist
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of general internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.746
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 1525-1497
pISSN - 0884-8734
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00416.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ingestion , goiter , iodine , graves' disease , thyroid , thyroid disease , drug , amiodarone , pediatrics , dermatology , pharmacology , materials science , metallurgy , atrial fibrillation
Complementary medication is en vogue and an increasing number of patients consume herbal medicine without reporting their use to physicians. We report a case of iodine‐induced hyperthyroidism due to the ingestion of a kelp‐containing tea. A 39‐year‐old woman with multinodular goiter presented with typical signs of hyperthyroidism, which was confirmed by endocrine tests. She was not exposed to iodinated radiocontrast media and did not take medications containing iodine, such as amiodarone. However, a detailed medical history revealed that she had been treated for a period of 4 weeks by a Chinese alternative practitioner with a herbal tea containing kelp because of her enlarged thyroid. The consumption of the tea was discontinued and an antithyroid drug therapy was initiated. Physicians should advise patients with underlying thyroid disease to avoid all complementary or alternative medications containing iodine.