thyroid crisis

crisis /cri·sis/ (kri´sis) pl. cri´ses   [L.]

1. the turning point of a disease for better or worse; especially a sudden change, usually for the better, in the course of an acute disease.

2. a sudden paroxysmal intensification of symptoms in the course of a disease.

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addisonian crisis , adrenal crisis fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss accompanying an acute attack of Addison's disease.

blast crisis  a sudden, severe change in the course of chronic granulocytic leukemia with an increase in the proportion of myeloblasts.

genital crisis of newborn  estrinization of the vaginal mucosa and hyperplasia of the breast, influenced by transplacentally acquired estrogens.

hemolytic crisis  acute red cell destruction leading to jaundice, occasionally seen with sickle cell disease.

identity crisis  a period in the psychosocial development of an individual, usually occurring during adolescence, manifested by confusion over one's self, values, or perceived role expected by society.

sickle cell crisis  a broad term for several acute conditions occurring with sickle cell disease, including hemolytic crisis and vaso-occlusive crisis.

thyroid crisis , thyrotoxic crisis thyroid storm; a sudden and dangerous increase of symptoms of thyrotoxicosis.

vasoocclusive crisis  severe pain due to infarctions in the bones, joints, lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, eye, or central nervous system, an acute condition seen with sickle cell anemia.

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thyroid crisis

n.

See thyrotoxic crisis.

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thyroid crisis

Etymology: Gk, thyreos, shield, eidos, form, krisis, turning point

a sudden exacerbation of symptoms of thyrotoxicosis, characterized by fever, sweating, tachycardia, extreme nervous excitability, and pulmonary edema. It usually occurs in a patient whose thyrotoxicosis treatment is inadequate, and the paroxysm is triggered by a stressful infection or injury. If untreated, the crisis is often fatal. Also called thyroid storm, thyrotoxic crisis. See also Graves' disease.

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thyroid crisis (thī´roid),

n a sudden exacerbation of symptoms of thyrotoxicosis characterized by fever, sweating, tachycardia, extreme nervous excitability, and pulmonary edema. If untreated, the crisis often is fatal. Also called
thyroid storm.