Lithium-Associated Transient Thyrotoxicosis in 4 Chinese Women with Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Four Chinese female patients who suffered from manic-depressive disorder and underlying autoimmune thyroiditis developed transient episodes of thyrotoxicosis during maintenance lithium therapy. Endocrinologically speaking, three of them had “Hashitoxicosis”, while the other had silent lymphocytic thyroiditis. Albeit rare among Western patients, such lithium-associated thyroid dysfunctions appeared to be more likely to occur in Hong Kong Chinese. They seemed to involve multiple aetiological factors, such as autoimmune thyroid disease, the toxic and immunomodulatory roles of lithium and perhaps genetic and dietary factors. Because of their self-limiting nature, the importance of avoiding unnecessary and potentially deleterious antithyroid treatment is emphasised.