Acute Painful Thyroiditis and Thyrotoxicosis after PCI – a Case Study

Destructive thyroiditis is a self-limited disease characterized by acute release of preformed thyroid hormones. We present a patient with extremely rare acute painful thyroiditis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute myocardial infarction without ST-elevation. The acute onset of thyroid pain and increase of fT3, fT4 and parameters of inflammation were compatible with acute destructive thyroiditis. Such acute thyroiditis probably resulted from local inflammation induced by a large amount of iodine given to the patient via iodinated contrast media used during PCI. Because of the increasing number of patients referred to cardiac catheterization, invasive cardiologists should be aware of the potentially serious thyroid dysfunction that can result from iodinated contrast use. The aim of our paper is, in the light of the patient presented, to discuss the pathophysiology, clinical presentations, therapy and potential preventive measures in patients that develop thyroid dysfunction after PCI.