Clinical, Biochemical, Hematological, Endocrinological and Immunological Differences Between Graves’ Disease Patients With and Without Thyroid Storm

BACKGROUND: Thyroid storm (TS) is very rare, however, a life-threatening medical condition requiring emergency treatment. Since TS is rare, published case reports and seven unpublished cases of TS diagnosed at the researchers’ facilities were analyzed to make diagnostic criteria for TS in Japan. There are no reports on differences in backgrounds between Graves’ disease patients with and without TS, from a single research facility. METHODS: We retrospectively picked up patients who had been diagnosed as having Graves’ disease with and without TS, at National Center for Global Health and Medicine Kohnodai Hospital, between January 2010 and October 2018. According to the guideline for the diagnosis of Graves’ disease and TS presented by the Japan Thyroid Association, we diagnosed patients as having Graves’ disease with and without TS. We obtained clinical and laboratory data by using electronical medical records and database after showing the opt-out. RESULTS: We found 69 Graves’ disease patients without TS, and five Graves’ disease patients with TS. Graves’ disease patients with TS were significantly younger than those without TS. Graves’ disease patients with TS included a significantly higher percentage of male patients than those without TS. Body temperature and pulse rate in patients with TS were significantly higher than those without TS. Serum thyroid hormone levels and the titer of third-generation thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody in patients with TS were significantly higher than in those without TS. Neutrophilic leukocytosis together with eosinopenia, monocytopenia and lymphocytopenia were observed in patients with TS. Serum alkaline phosphatase level was significantly higher in patients with TS than in those without TS. Serum levels of triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in patients with TS were significantly lower than those without TS. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated significant clinical, biochemical, hematological, endocrinological and immunological differences in Graves’ disease patients with TS compared to those without TS.