Slow evolution of non-familial autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II in a 54-year-old female, first presenting with Addison’s disease, then Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which then transitioned to Graves’ disease and then the development of type 1 dia
<b>Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II is progressive and unpredictable</b> New endocrinopathies may develop years or even decades after the initial presentation, requiring lifelong surveillance.<b>Autoimmune thyroid disease can be dynamic</b> Although rare (~1% of cases), transitions from Hashimoto's hypothyroidism to Graves' hyperthyroidism are well documented and should be considered when thyroid function changes unexpectedly.<b>Clinical vigilance is crucial</b> Suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone in a patient on levothyroxine is not always due to over-replacement; testing for thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin should be considered to exclude evolving Graves' disease.<b>Adrenal insufficiency must be recognized before thyroid therapy</b> Initiating levothyroxine without adequate glucocorticoid coverage can precipitate adrenal crisis in autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II.<b>Multidisciplinary care improves outcomes</b> Coordinated management between endocrinology, primary care, and other specialties ensures timely detection and treatment of evolving autoimmune conditions.
Authors
- Ghayda’ E’leimat
- Hemant Thawani
- Thomas Nguyen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3014-872X)
Institutions
- Hurley Medical Center (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine
- Published
- 2025-09-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.12890/2025_005779
- Primary Topic
- Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00