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Case Reports
. 2021 Oct 20;21(1):207.
doi: 10.1186/s12902-021-00870-y.

Heart failure as a serious complication of iodinated contrast-induced hyperthyroidism: case-report

Sofie M Diepenbroek  1   2 , A de Jonghe  3 , C van Rees  3 , E Seebus  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Heart failure as a serious complication of iodinated contrast-induced hyperthyroidism: case-report

Sofie M Diepenbroek et al. BMC Endocr Disord. .

Abstract

Background: exposure to iodinated contrast media (ICM) can cause hyperthyroidism, due to disruption of thyroid hormone regulation. Although rare, it can have severe consequences and can lead to fatal complications. Current guidelines do not recommend standard laboratory testing of the thyroid function prior to ICM exposure. Prophylactic treatment of patients at higher risk of hyperthyroidism is not advised.

Case presentation: we report the case of an 82-year-old woman who developed ICM induced hyperthyroidism after undergoing a chest computed tomography (CT). One month after ICM administration she presented with pneumonia at the emergency department. Hyperthyroidism was found with concomitant tachycardia, which was hard to control. As a result of hyperthyroidism and coincidental pneumonia the patient developed heart failure and died of myocardial ischemia.

Conclusions: this case report underlines the importance of close monitoring of high-risk patients after ICM exposure. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of hyperthyroidism and potential severe complications. The use of ICM needs careful consideration, especially in the elderly who suffer more often from multinodular goitre.

Keywords: Hyperthyroidism; ICM; Iodinated contrast media; Iodine-induced; Tachycardia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Chest CT revealing multinodular goitre; 1 transverse plane; 2 coronal plane
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Time line. Legend: ICM = moment of chest CT with iodinated contrast media; † = time of death
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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