Endocrine Abstracts

ObjectThe aim of the study was to evaluate the peripartum changes in the level of TSH and thyroid function, due to dietary iron deficiency anaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia is widely prevalent in developing countries like India. It is the most pervasive of all nutritional deficiencies, particularly affecting women especially pregnant women. It is very important to note the changes in the thyroid activity by severe anaemia during peripartum period.<p c...

A 49 year old man presented with a 6 month history of new onset truncal ataxia and vertigo. Further enquiry revealed a 6 year history of erectile dysfunction, low energy levels, depression, significant weight loss and a 3 year history of sensorineuronal deafness confirmed by audiometry. His past medical history included ulcerative colitis requiring a colectomy 11 years previously. On clinical examination he was a thin and well tanned patient with relative hypotension (98<...

We present two cases of rare connective tissue disease precipitated by antithyroid medication. The first case is a 37-year-old woman from the Philippines who presented with thyrotoxicosis. She was commenced on Carbimazole, which was subsequently switched to propylthiouracil, as she wanted to become pregnant without delay. Within 2 months she had developed Raynaud’s phenomenon and a facial rash. Autoantibody testing showed a positive ANA of speckled pattern, negative doubl...

Graves’ disease typically follows a relapsing and remitting course. Most patients with recurrent hyperthyroidism after withdrawal of antithyroid drugs (ATDs) are offered definitive treatment with radioactive iodine. This retrospective study aimed to identify clinical and biochemical indices that predict relapse following ATD withdrawal, which could allow earlier definitive treatment to be initiated.We studied 70 patients with Graves’ disease wh...

IntroductionThe typical pattern of thyroid function tests associated with secondary hypothyroidism, partial hypopituitarism and panhypopituitarism consists of subnormal free-T4, normal or marginally elevated TSH and normal T3 concentrations. Only laboratories offering frontline TFT’s including fT4 and TSH, rather than TSH alone, can identify such cases. Our prospective study assessed the number of cases of hypopituitarism which would be diagnosed by...

A 36 year old lady referred to the endocrinology clinic, with a history of tiredness, fatigability and abnormal thyroid function. She had no significant past medial history, no family history of thyroid disease and her only medication was an oral contraceptive pill (Ovranette). She had experienced fatigue over a period of 5 years, since returning from a visit to Pakistan, during which she had developed diarrhoea which had persisted for about 12 months. Thyroid function tests a...

IntroductionRadioactive iodine (RAI) is a well-established treatment for relapsed Graves and toxic nodular hyperthyroidism. Lithium reduces the release of organic iodide and thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland, which results in a reduction of urinary radioiodine excretion. Previous studies have shown lithium may improve the effectiveness of radioiodine therapy; however research in this area is limited.Objective<p class="abs...

IntroductionPatients treated with radioiodine (RAI) for thyrotoxicosis, secondary to Graves or a toxic nodule, require close follow up to determine whether they have become hypothyroid or have a recurrence. National guidelines state that patients should have their first blood test at about six weeks post RAI. Telephoning patients with their results, rather than reviewing them at outpatient appointments, can be a more convenient and efficient method of fo...

Thyrotoxic hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (THPP) is an uncommon potentially life-threatening endocrine emergency characterized by sudden onset of muscle weakness with hypokalaemia that resolves with treatment of hyperthyroidism. Reported predominantly among individuals of Asian descent, THPP is rare in western populations. We present 2 cases of THPP diagnosed within 6 months in a district general hospital.First patient: a 37 year white male presented wi...

BackgroundRapid induction of eu/hypothyroidism in patients with immune hyperthyroidism has been known to precipitate Thyroid eye disease (TED). Our aim was to investigate the incidence of TED in patients treated with radio-iodine therapy (RIT) at our hospital.MethodsWe examined case notes of 45 patients who underwent radio-iodine therapy for Graves’ disease with 544.7 (95% CI- 522.3 – 567.1) MBq bet...

ObjectiveIt is controversial whether subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) always reflects mild thyroid failure and if treatment is beneficial. The arguments in favour of treatment are prevention of progression, reducing cholesterol levels and improving symptoms. The consequence of SCH on body weight and its response to treatment has never been studied in a systematic manner.MethodsUnselected population-based stud...

A 26-year-old woman presented with vomiting and cortical blindness. CT scan of the brain confirmed a right-sided parietal-occipital infarct, She subsequently developed seizures and neurological extension resulting in global dysphasia. Serum and CSF lactate were elevated (4.4 and 4.3 mmol/l respectively, NR<1.8). MELAS syndrome was confirmed by mitochondrial DNA analysis, which revealed an A3243G mutation in muscle and serum (85% muscle, 63% urinary epithelial cells and 33%...

Thyroid hormone is absolutely necessary for early brain development. Incidence of thyroid disorders in infancy is 1:4,000. Thyroid hormones can be deficient through hormone synthesis and action or very rarely through defective transport. Some new and exciting transporters for tri-iodothyronine (T3) have recently come to light. MCT 8 gene encodes the protein that transports T3 into neurons. Its mutation result in inability of T3 to enter a devel...