Schmidt’s Syndrome Presenting as Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Adrenal Crisis: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Introduction: Schmidt’s Syndrome, is a rare endocrine disorder defined by the combined occurrence of Addison disease, autoimmune thyroid disease, and type 1 diabetes mellitus. The rarity of the condition and the presentation of adrenal insufficiency and hypothyroidism often lead to misdiagnosis with life-threatening consequences for the patients. We report a case presenting with adrenal insufficiency and diabetic ketoacidosis who was diagnosed with Schmidt’s Syndrome. Case Description: We describe the case of a 38-year-old male with a past medical history of hypothyroidism, who was admitted for worsening abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fevers, and chills. Physical exam revealed underweight male with marked dehydration, diaphoresis, in moderate abdominal pain. Initial vital signs and laboratory panel raised suspicion for adrenal insufficiency and diabetic ketoacidosis. Blood pressure 82/42mmHg, HR of 121, sodium 128mmol/L, potassium 6.8mmol/L, chloride 104mmol/L, bicarbonate 5mmol/L, BUN 20mg/dl, Creatinine 1.5mg/dl, Glucose 402mg/dl, TSH 60, and serum osmolality 319mosm/kg. The electrolyte derangements and vital signs improved after the initiation of the high-dose steroids and insulin. The patient was transitioned to a regimen of hydrocortisone/ fludrocortisone, levothyroxine, and insulin basal/bolus and was discharged in clinically stable conditions to follow up with an endocrinologist. Discussion: The prevalence of Schmidt’s syndrome is 1:20,000 in the general population and a 3:1 ratio of females to males. Autoimmune thyroid disease is present in 70–75%, T1DM in 40–60%, and Addison’s disease in 40–50%. This syndrome can be associated with other non-endocrine autoimmune disorders, such as vitiligo, myasthenia gravis, Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and primary antiphospholipid syndrome. The initial step in diagnosis should be checking serum morning cortisol levels to identify adrenal insufficiency. Autoimmune antibodies play an important role to confirm the diagnosis including 21-hydroxylase, 17-hydroxylase, thyroid peroxidase, glutamic acid decarboxylase, islet cells, anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies, parietal cell, and anti-intrinsic factor antibodies. Currently, treatment is limited to hormone replacement in patients with organ failure. But it is crucial to replace corticosteroids before starting thyroid replacement in patients with adrenal insufficiency. Conclusion: A high level of diagnostic suspicion is required for the diagnosis of Schmidt’s syndrome when encountering a patient with autoimmune disease. The diagnosis of this syndrome is often delayed, causing adverse events. With this case presentation, we add to the data pool of Schmidt’s syndrome with the ability to significantly improve patients outcomes with early diagnosis and hormone replacement.