Endocrine Abstracts

Following the establishment of a telephone clinic follow-up for patients receiving radioiodine for recurrent thyrotoxicosis, we wished to further improve our results in achieving hypo(eu)thyroidism while minimising the risk of transient hyperthyroidism and thyroid storm post-therapy. Although not widely used, lithium has been shown to increase the effectiveness of radioiodine therapy, leading to prompter control of hyperthyroidism. Since August 2001, patients undergoing radioi...

In August 1999, to reduce pressure on an overcrowded outpatient department and the incidence of undetected early hypothyroidism, we implemented a new protocol for the follow-up of patients undergoing radioiodine treatment for recurrent thyrotoxicosis. Suitable patients are invited to participate in follow-up by telephone. Thyroid function tests are checked at 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks post-treatment. Patients who become hypothyroid post-treatment (fT4 <14 picomoles per litre) a...

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...

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.<p c...

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....

Lithium blocks the release of organic iodine and thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland without affecting thyroidal radioactive iodine (RAI) uptake. From August 2001, we have been using lithium carbonate 800mg nocte as an adjunct to RAI treatment for thyrotoxicosis. Antithyroid medication is stopped and lithium started 3 days before RAI. Lithium is continued for 10 days in total with levels checked at 3 and 10 days. Thyroid function tests (TFTs) are measured 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 ...

Objectives: The canonical function of thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) as mediators of thyroid hormone action on target gene expression is well known. However, the physiological function of the thyroid hormone receptor α splice variant TRα2, that does not bind thyroid hormones, remains elusive. Initial studies addressing the function of TRα2 indicated that it might act as a TRα1 antagonist, but the mechanisms underlying the dominant-negative activity of TR&#...

Objectives: The thyroid hormone receptor α (TRα) is crucial for organ development, regulation of growth, heart rate and energy homeostasis. In humans, THRA encodes for the two major TRα isoforms, TRα1 and TRα2. TRα2 is generated by alternative splicing and is unable to bind T3 and thus antagonizes TRα1 signaling. Therefore, the physiological effects of TRα require strictly controlled spatiotemporal expression of TRα isoform...

Background: Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (PanNETs) are highly prevalent in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) and one of the main causes of mortality. Conventional imaging is the mainstay of PanNET screening/surveillance in MEN1. This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of conventional pancreatic imaging studies and to determine the added value of pancreatic fine needle aspirations (FNA) for the diagnosis of MEN1-related PanNETs.Meth...