Endocrine Abstracts

The effects of goitrogens on the thyroid gland have been much studied and calcium is considered as a goitrogen in some cases. Since the level of calcium is high in drinking water of some cities of Khuzestan province, the effects of high calcium intake on the function of thyroid gland is investigated in this study. For this purpose the concentration of thyroid hormones is measured in rats.The study was carried out on73 male and female rats. The animals we...

AimAssessment of surgery efficacy in patients with MTC.MethodsWe used DNA extracted from 53 patients with MTC. All samples were subjected to PCR. Radio-immunological examination, serum CT measurement was performed by means of commercially available kit RIA DCL-1200. Basal calcitonin (CT) levels higher than 100 picograms per ml and the stimulated CT levels are accepted as pathological and typical of MTC.<p...

Genome wide screens in Graves’ disease (GD) have identified several regions of linkage which may harbour genes which contribute to disease susceptibility. One such region, on chromosome 5q31-33, contains a cytokine cluster which includes interleukin-13 (IL-13). This molecule plays a key role in IgE production, which has been reported to be elevated in patients with GD. Two functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), -1112 and +2044, within the IL-13 gene were recen...

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is an autosomal dominant disease due to deficient Porphobilinogen (PBG) deaminase activity. Hyponatremia, found in approximately 20% of symptomatic AIP, is often due to inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH). An association between AIP and hyperthyroidism is not clearly established. We describe a patient with AIP and SIADH who presented with Graves’ hyperthyroidism. A 35-year-old lady was admitted with lower abdominal pain. Physical examina...

Clinical case: A 37 year-old Caucasian man was admitted with sudden onset lower limb weakness following a carbohydrate-heavy meal the night before. Pulse was 110/min, sinus rhythm, BP 167/92 mmHg. There was generalised muscle weakness, particularly in his legs, with hyporeflexia and hypotonia. There was no sensory deficit and plantar responses were downgoing. Serum K+ was 2.4 mmol/L, associated with typical ECG anomalies, and was corrected with 40 mmol intravenous KCl followed...

Objective: To improve post-operative thyroid surgery practice and to determine if it would be safe to perform thyroid surgery as day surgery. To identify the nature and timings of acute life threatening airway complications, trends in current practice, and gain information on perioperative mortality....

A 54 yr old man presented with a six-month history of palpitations, sweating and weight loss. He had a past history of hypertension, type II diabetes, asthma and was HIV-1 seropositive since 14 yrs and was taking potent anti-retroviral therapy: Nevirapine 200 mg bd; Kaletra 3 capsules bd; and didanosine ec 400 mg od.Investigations confirmed Graves thyrotoxicosis (fT4 72.1 pmol/l; TSH <0.01 mU/l; and TSH receptor antibody positive). He was initially t...

Introduction: Radioactive Iodine (RAI) is a well-established and effective treatment for hyperthyroidism. Lithium (Li) blocks the release of organic iodide and thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland without effecting thyroidal RAI uptake. Through decreasing the loss of RAI from the thyroid it has also been shown to reduce urinary RAI excretion. Its use as an adjunct to RAI in the therapy of hyperthyroidism has been postulated, but information on the subject is limited....

A 76 year old female presented in 2000 with thyrotoxicosis secondary to Grave’s disease. She was treated successfully with propylthiouracil (PTU) for 2 years then opted for and received a standard therapeutic dose of radioactive iodine (131I) in September 2003. Her thyroid function tests (TFTs) normalised in the first 6 months after treatment (FT4 <14 pmol/l) and she was started on replacement thyroxine 50 mcg od for 8 weeks. She presented in March 2004 wit...