Plasmapheresis in thyrotoxicosis: a single-center case series.

BACKGROUND: Plasmapheresis represent an alternative therapeutic option for hyperthyroidism with thyroid storm or refractory cases. It provides a rapid decrease in plasma thyroid hormones and anti-thyroid antibodies. The aim of this paper was to report our single center's experience in managing particular situations of hyperthyroidism using apheresis. CASES PRESENTATION: The following case series describes three young African patients (two females, one male) aged 29, 37, and 25 years old, respectively, with Graves' disease who presented with drug ineffectiveness, drug-induced agranulocytosis, and thyroid storm with multi-organ failure. The three patients underwent plasmapheresis sessions leading to effective decline of thyroid hormone levels and offering a window for processing total thyroidectomy. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The standard management of thyrotoxicosis and thyroid storm was usually codified by the concomitant use of antithyroid medication, iodine, beta-blockers, and corticosteroids. This medical preparation can be effective in most cases. However, drug toxicity or ineffectiveness can limit the use of such therapeutics. Our paper supports the efficiency and safety of therapeutic plasma exchange in the preoperative management of thyrotoxicosis.

Bilateral Lipoadenoma of the Adrenal Glands and Humeral Brown Tumor: An Unusual Association.

Adrenal adenolipomas are rare lipomatous adrenal tumors that can be either functional or not. Only 7 cases have been reported in the English literature so far. However, brown tumors are benign, rare, historical lesions, with histological similarity to giant tumors that can be encountered in 1% of all primary hyperparathyroidism cases. We report the case of an unusual association of bilateral lipoadenoma of the adrenal glands and humeral brown tumor in a 35-year-old patient. He presented to the emergency department with a pathological fracture of the left humerus secondary to a brown tumor. The medical investigations have concluded to primary hyperparathyroidism. The screening for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 revealed the presence of bilateral nonsecreting adrenal masses whose anatomopathological study concluded adenolipomas. Adrenal tumors may constitute a part of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 in 20 to 40% of cases. In this view, it is necessary to check for the presence of other endocrine gland tumor locations such as primary hyperparathyroidism, neuroendocrine tumors of the duodenum and pancreas, or pituitary adenomas.