Endocrine Abstracts

Hyperthyroidism is associated with multiple gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms including vomiting, although this is not very common. We present a case of a 61-year-old female patient, who was admitted under surgeons with persistent and severe vomiting which was very difficult to manage. No acute surgical cause for vomiting was found and the patient was referred for a gastroscopy which was normal. Her past history was significant for Grave’s disease which was in remission for last 20 years. On checking her thyroid function tests, she was grossly thyrotoxic with fully suppressed TSH.

Hyperthyroidism is frequently associated with GI symptoms such as diarrhoea, hyperphagia etc, however, vomiting is less common and can mislead clinicians to an alternate diagnosis. Therefore, the possibility of hyperthyroidism should be considered in cases of refractory unexplained vomiting, especially when there is past history of thyroid dysfunction.