Severe hyperthyroidism is a life-threatening exacerbation of thyrotoxicosis, characterized by high fever and multiorgan failure. The most common medical treatments are administration of antithyroid drugs and radioactive iodine, and thyroidectomy. In some patients, antithyroid therapy is limited due to serious adverse effects or failure to control disease progression. In some extreme cases, such as thyroid storm, conventional therapy alone does not yield effective and rapid improvement before the development of multiorgan failure.

This report describes a Chinese patient with severe hyperthyroidism accompanied by multiorgan failure, who was transferred to the medical intensive care unit of our hospital. The patient presented with palpitations, vomiting, diarrhea, and shortness of breath for a week. Laboratory tests showed elevation of thyroid hormones. Hepatic failure occurred with high aminotransferase levels and jaundice. Given her abnormal liver function and medication history, we could not exclude diagnosis of propylthiouracil-induced hepatic failure. Moreover, she also suffered from heart failure. Therapeutic plasma exchange (commonly known as TPE) and continuous renal replacement therapy (commonly known as CRRT) were used as life-saving therapy, which resulted in notable improvement of clinical symptoms and laboratory tests.

Combined TPE and CRRT are safe and effective for patients with hyperthyroidism and multiorgan failure.

Hyperthyroidism is characterized by elevated levels of thyroid hormones in the circulation[1,2]. The most common causes of hyperthyroidism are Graves’ disease, multinodular toxic goiter, and autonomous hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules. Clinical manifestations of thyroid hyperfunction are usually mild or moderate. Severe hyperthyroidism is accompanied by more symptoms, particularly, asthenia followed by nervousness, dyspnea, and loss of weight. Severe hyperthyroidism is rare but life-threatening and can lead to irreversible multiorgan failure and high mortality, especially for older people or patients with cardiovascular disease[3]. Thus, a clinically euthyroid state should be achieved as soon as possible.

Traditional medical management has focused on supportive treatment and medication that halt the synthesis, release and peripheral effects of thyroid hormones[4]. However, these measures are limited because of adverse effects or failure to relieve the critical condition quickly. As therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is able to remove large amounts of serum protein-bound thyroid hormones from the circulation, plasmapheresis has been used as one of the effective alternative treatments since the 1970s[5]. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) can eliminate toxic substances and regulate water–electrolyte and acid–base balance. The combined use of blood purification technology can replace some metabolic functions, thereby effectively improving metabolic disorders.

We report herein a case of severe hyperthyroidism with multiorgan failure, for which antithyroid therapy was contraindicated, and TPE combined with CRRT successfully stabilized the condition of the patient.

Burch and Wartofsky score was used to assess the probability of thyrotoxicosis; the patient’s Burch and Wartofsky score was 40. According to clinical presentation and laboratory results, the diagnoses of GD, hyperthyroid heart disease, and multiorgan dysfunction was confirmed.

On the day of admission, we intended to initiate TPE; however, considering the patient’s heart failure and severe edema, CRRT was administered with citrate anticoagulation. Continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration was performed and her blood flow rate was maintained at 150-200 mL/min based on target ultrafiltration. Replacement solutions were infused with post-displacement liquid at 1.5 L/h and dialysate liquid at 1.5 L/h. After treatment with CRRT, the vital signs began to stabilize and the agitated mental status was relieved, but the serum bilirubin remained dangerously elevated, which was reflected in the level of total bilirubin at 333.8 μmol/L. Therefore, TPE using 2 L fresh frozen plasma was performed in the following 4 d.

Following these procedures, the clinical signs were relieved almost completely. Chest radiography showed moderate improvement of cardiac enlargement (Figure 1). Upon further investigation, PTU-induced hepatic failure could not be excluded, so no antithyroid drugs were administered during this period. Liver biopsy was refused by the patient’s parents. On the 5th day, when the laboratory test results were improved (Figures 2 and 3), the patient tried taking methimazole (MMI, 20 mg/d) on the recommendation of an endocrinologist. On the 10th day, her transaminase levels and coagulation parameters were close to normal limits. She was then transferred to the Endocrinology Department for follow-up care.

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Figure 2 Changes in FT3 and FT4 during treatment. The gray and orange shadows showed when TPE and CRRT were carried out. The arrows indicate when MMI was administered. TPE: Therapeutic plasma exchange; CRRT: Continuous renal replacement therapy; MMI: Methimazole; FT3: Free tri-iodothyronine; FT4: Free thyroxin.

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Figure 3 Changes in liver function during treatment. The gray and orange shadows show when TPE and CRRT were carried out. The arrows indicate when MMI was administered. The levels of ALT, AST and TB declined progressively. TPE: Therapeutic plasma exchange; CRRT: Continuous renal replacement therapy; MMI: Methimazole; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; TB: Total bilirubin.

The patient was discharged from our hospital after normal liver and thyroid function tests were obtained 1 mo later. Upon regular follow-up in the endocrinology clinic, her thyroid function status was normal and MMI was gradually reduced to 5 mg/d.

Hyperthyroidism can induce abnormal liver function, especially in the setting of congestive heart failure or thyroid storm, since excessive thyroid hormone levels augment cardiac output without an increase in hepatic blood flow[6], which leads to increased oxygen consumption and decreased liver perfusion that eventually lead to tissue hypoxia[7,8]. A previous report cited that mild derangements in liver function tests are common even in patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism but hepatic failure is rare[9].

An unusual feature of our patient was that our patient’s transaminases were slightly abnormal at the beginning. On commencing treatment with PTU for 1 d in the local hospital, her liver function deteriorated sharply. PTU was withdrawn and transaminases decreased but remained dangerously elevated. Other causes of hepatic injury, such as viral hepatitis, autoimmune disorders, alcohol consumption, and hepatotoxicity induced by other drugs were excluded. Acute liver failure in this patient was likely to be attributed to hepatocellular injury caused by insufficient oxygen supply as a result of decreased cardiac output. This was compounded by heart failure.

Furthermore, a possible relationship between liver dysfunction and PTU should be considered. However, hepatitis secondary to drug intake is difficult to diagnose. Hanson proposed the criteria to assist with diagnosis of drug-induced hepatitis. Only histological confirmation of hepatocellular injury and drug rechallenge could establish the diagnosis, but it is ethically unusual and only possible practically[10]. In our case, the liver biopsy sample was not obtained owing to her parents’ refusal.

In fact, transaminases in most patients with thyroid storm are only mildly elevated. An elevation of transaminases with AST levels > 1000 U/L is uncommon[11], and severe acute liver failure, as in the present patient, is an unusual presentation[12]. In most reported cases, liver failure occurs a few days or weeks after treatment by PTU[13]. Carhill et al[4] reported a 27-year-old patient with heart failure whose transaminases were elevated significantly after initiation of PTU. The PTU was replaced with MMI, and transaminases then decreased. Both Eisen and Lock reported severe hepatotoxicity after using 300 mg PTU for just 1 d[14,15]. PTU-related liver failure can occur at any time over the course of therapy. Unlike MMI, the adverse effects of PTU are not dose related. When PTU-related liver failure occurs, the onset is sudden, and the course is rapidly progressive[16].

TPE is an extracorporeal blood purification technique designed for rapid removal of harmful plasma constituents or to decrease the concentrations of antibodies and immune complexes[14,17]. It is a well-established and effective therapeutic option in many diseases and has been used successfully to treat severe hyperthyroidism in recent years[18,19]. The mechanism of this approach is based on the fact that approximately 99% of the circulating thyroid hormones are bound to serum proteins (thyroxin-binding globulin, transthyretin, and albumin), and these protein-bound thyroid hormones can be cleared during TPE. TPE can supplement unbound globulins from fresh frozen plasma to provide new binding sites for free thyroid hormones, which can be removed during the next TPE procedure[20]. In addition, TPE provides a particular benefit to patients with coagulopathy of liver disease by supplying coagulation factors. In patients with fulminant hepatic failure, TPE can improve survival of those with sufficient residual hepatic capacity for generation[15]. However, TPE alone was not adequately effective in the present patient, which indicated that she needed more urgent therapy.

It is well known that CRRT is conducive to regulation of acid–base balance, electrolytes, and fluid balance to maintain cellular metabolism and homeostasis. Thus, we performed CRRT initially to alleviate symptoms of heart failure and improve life-threatening conditions. CRRT involves continuous dialysis and filtration to facilitate the slower removal of fluids and solutes, which is well tolerated and results in fewer metabolic changes in critically ill patients[21]. This approach has advantages in terms of cardiovascular stability, which is suggested as a therapeutic measure in patients with heart failure. Furthermore, it can continually eliminate harmful molecular substances, blood ammonia, and other toxic substances such as lactic acid, which is also beneficial to patients with liver failure.

Our patient responded well to CRRT and TPE. However, approximately 25% of the thyroid hormones are present in the intravascular compartment, and each plasma exchange decreases FT3 and FT4 levels by 30%-50%. The influx of extravascular thyroid hormones into the circulation cannot be ignored[22]. Therefore, co-administration of antithyroid drugs is still necessary to maintain a long-term clinical stabilization. Some patients are treated with radioiodine, surgery or MMI after discontinuation of PTU. In recent years, the use of radioiodine in Graves’ disease has increased in Asia. In contrast, there is a decreasing trend of radioiodine therapy in the United States and Europe, which may be related to reports of higher rates of radiation-induced malignancies after radioiodine treatment[23]. In the present case, PTU was replaced with MMI 20 mg/d orally. Thyroid hormone and transaminases levels were stable. During follow-up of > 2 years, the thyroid and liver function tests were normal.

In conclusion, severe hyperthyroidism with high mortality requires multidisciplinary therapeutic measures in the intensive care setting. TPE combined with CRRT should be considered as a reasonably safe alternative when conventional treatment has failed. Early application of blood purification is feasible in serious clinical situations. Later, conventional medicine can be administered at an appropriate time. This sequential treatment procedure is worth considering in critically ill patients.

If the patient is on antithyroid therapy, and other contributors to liver damage have been excluded, drug-induced hepatotoxicity should be kept in mind. Propylthiouracil-induced liver injury may be very severe, even leading to acute liver failure. It can occur at any time over the course of therapy and is not dose related. TPE combined with CRRT in severe hyperthyroidism patients should be considered as a reasonably safe alternative in serious clinical situations.