Thyroid Storm Presenting With Neurological, Obstetric, and Cardiovascular Features: A Case Series

Thyroid storm is a rare but life-threatening endocrine emergency that can present with a wide range of clinical manifestations, which may delay diagnosis, particularly in atypical cases. We present a case series of three patients with thyroid storm to highlight its clinical variability and management challenges. We describe three patients with thyroid storm who presented with distinct clinical patterns, including neurological involvement with seizures, an obstetric trigger with severe systemic deterioration, and a case complicated by atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke. In all cases, a precipitating factor was identified, and treatment was initiated with beta-blockers, corticosteroids, and methimazole. Although scoring systems such as the Burch-Wartofsky Point Scale were useful, they did not always fully reflect clinical severity, particularly in the presence of comorbid conditions. All patients showed clinical improvement with treatment. These cases illustrate the clinical variability of thyroid storm and the importance of clinical judgment in diagnosis. They also support the use of methimazole as a reasonable therapeutic option, within the limitations of this case series, in settings where propylthiouracil is not available.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2026-04-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.106859
Primary Topic
Thyroid Disorders and Treatments
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Thyroid Storm Presenting With Neurological, Obstetric, and Cardiovascular Features: A Case Series

Daniel Balderrama
Cureus
Thyroid Disorders and Treatments
article

Thyroid Storm Presenting With Neurological, Obstetric, and Cardiovascular Features: A Case Series

Daniel Balderrama
article en

Abstract

Thyroid storm is a rare but life-threatening endocrine emergency that can present with a wide range of clinical manifestations, which may delay diagnosis, particularly in atypical cases. We present a case series of three patients with thyroid storm to highlight its clinical variability and management challenges. We describe three patients with thyroid storm who presented with distinct clinical patterns, including neurological involvement with seizures, an obstetric trigger with severe systemic deterioration, and a case complicated by atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke. In all cases, a precipitating factor was identified, and treatment was initiated with beta-blockers, corticosteroids, and methimazole. Although scoring systems such as the Burch-Wartofsky Point Scale were useful, they did not always fully reflect clinical severity, particularly in the presence of comorbid conditions. All patients showed clinical improvement with treatment. These cases illustrate the clinical variability of thyroid storm and the importance of clinical judgment in diagnosis. They also support the use of methimazole as a reasonable therapeutic option, within the limitations of this case series, in settings where propylthiouracil is not available.

Cureus
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Thyroid Disorders and Treatments
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Thyroid Storm Presenting With Neurological, Obstetric, and Cardiovascular Features: A Case Series — Daniel Balderrama · Cureus (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS