A patient may die suddenly during thyroid storm (thyroid crisis).
The patient may be known to be hyperthyroid but it sometimes it is not expected ("silent").
Clinical and laboratory features:
(1) The patient may present with a tachyarrhythmia, ischemic heart disease and/or pulmonary edema, which may be precipitated by some stressful event.
(2) The patient develops multi-organ failure.
(3) Sudden death may occur if appropriate therapy is not started quickly.
(4) Blood specimens show a markedly elevated T3 and/or T4.
(5) Examination of the thyroid shows goiter, thyromegaly and/or thyroiditis.
(6) Exclusion of other causes of sudden death.
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Specialty: Clinical Laboratory