Dual Antithyroid Drug-Induced Agranulocytosis in Graves' Disease With Decompensated Heart Failure: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Abstract
Antithyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication, particularly in patients with limited therapeutic options. This case illustrates the complexity of managing uncontrolled thyrotoxicosis in the context of a patient with decompensated heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and adverse reactions to both methimazole and propylthiouracil. A 54-year-old male patient with a 2-year history of Graves' disease presented with worsening dyspnea and tachycardia in the setting of thyrotoxicosis with a TSH of 0.0007 mIU/L. He had previously developed agranulocytosis (ANC 180 cells/µL) subsequent to treatment with methimazole, and subsequently developed febrile agranulocytosis (ANC 190 cells/µL) upon initiation of propylthiouracil, thereby exhausting all antithyroid drug options. A bridging therapy of Lugol's iodine and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was utilized, which enabled successful total thyroidectomy. Right heart catheterization confirmed the patient's suitability for surgery despite a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35%. This case highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in managing complex endocrine-cardiac-hematology presentations.
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