Atypical Presentation and Successful Management of Combined Hyperthyroidism and Adrenal Insufficiency in a Young Male

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 16; no. 8; p. e66150
• Main Authors: Khalil, Zeyad, Hussein, Reham E, Al-Abbedien, Eman Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cureus Inc 04.08.2024; Cureus
• Subjects: Adrenal glands; Anxiety; Electrolytes; Endocrine disorders; Endocrinology/Diabetes/Metabolism; Goiter; Graves disease; Heart rate; Hormones; Hyperthyroidism; Internal Medicine; Iodine; Medical imaging; Metabolism; Pathophysiology; Therapeutics; Thyroid diseases; Ultrasonic imaging; adrenal insufficiency; hyperthyroidism; multidisciplinary approach; antithyroid medications; hormonal assays; endocrine disorders; glucocorticoid replacement therapy
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.66150

This case report details the unusual presentation and successful management of a 25-year-old male diagnosed with both hyperthyroidism and adrenal insufficiency. The patient initially presented with symptoms of fatigue, weight loss, and palpitations, with no significant past medical history. Further evaluation revealed elevated thyroid hormone levels and decreased cortisol levels, confirming the diagnosis of concurrent hyperthyroidism and adrenal insufficiency. The complexity of managing these coexisting endocrine disorders required a multidisciplinary approach. Techniques utilized included detailed hormonal assays, imaging studies, and dynamic endocrine testing. The therapeutic regimen involved the administration of antithyroid medications, beta-blockers for symptom control, and glucocorticoid replacement therapy. This report underscores the importance of considering multiple endocrine disorders in patients with nonspecific systemic symptoms and highlights the need for individualized treatment plans to address the unique challenges presented by such comorbidities.