Endocrine Abstracts

The treatment of benign multinodular goitre (MNG) is controversial, but surgery is recommended for large compressive goitres in contrast to observation in small to medium sized MNG. While some patients decline surgery others have contraindications due to comorbidity. Therefore, non-surgical treatment alternatives are needed. Until recently, levothyroxine therapy was the preferred non-surgical alternative. But due to low efficacy and potential side-effects, international guidel...

Laszlo Hegedüs, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark AbstractLaszlo Hegedüs is Professor of Endocrinology at University of Southern Denmark, in Odense and Consultant Endocrinologist at the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Odense University Hospital. His thesis for Doctor of Medical Science (1990) is entitled: ‘Thyroid size determined by ultrasound. Influence of physiological factors...

The prevalence of overt autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is no less than around 2–3% in the adult population and increases with age. Subclinical thyroid autoimmunity is around 10 times higher, with a female preponderance. Although the major phenotypes (Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – with or without goitre, and chronic asymptomatic thyroiditis) are well characterized our knowledge of the aetiology of these disorders is incomplete. Studying twins...

Background: Meta-analyses have questioned whether mortality is increased in hyper- and hypothyroid individuals, and if so the magnitude. This is mainly due to inadequate size of study populations, differences in study design and participant characteristics, lack of control for confounders and whether the participants are treated.Materials: Using record-linkage data from nationwide Danish health registers, and after adjustment for preexisting morbidity, a...

Objectives: The use of levothyroxine (LT4) treatment aiming to improve fertility in euthyroid women with positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), is not supported by the available evidence, however the extent to which this is applied in clinical practice is unknown. The aim of the study was to document the demographic, work-related characteristics, and therapeutic choices of European physicians in the case of euthyroid infertile women positive for TPOAb.<p class="ab...

Objectives: Some hypothyroid patients are critical of their care, although this appears to vary between countries. The quality of thyroid care delivered, and the perceived patient experience may be influenced by characteristics of specialists such as age, sex, experience, and workplace setting. Here, we aimed to explore geographical differences in thyroid specialist characteristics.Methods: THESIS is a large European questionnaire survey of thyroid speci...

Introduction: Hyperthyroidism has been suggested to adversely affect cognitive function. However, this association could also be caused by genetic and environmental factors affecting both the development of hyperthyroidism and cognitive functioning. By investigating cognitive function within twin pairs discordant for hyperthyroidism, this potential confounding can be minimized. The aim of this study was to examine if hyperthyroidism is associated with long-term cognitive dysfu...

Background: Hyperthyroidism has been associated with increased all-cause mortality. Whether the underlying cause of hyperthyroidism influences this association is unclear. Our hypothesis was that Graves’ disease (GD) and toxic nodular goiter (TNG) differ with respect to mortality risk and cause of death.Methods: An observational cohort study, using record-linkage data from nation-wide Danish health registers. 1.291 and 861 subjects with GD and TNG, ...

Background: Hypothyroidism has been linked with an increased risk of morbidity such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. However, it is unknown whether the burden of morbidity is present before or after the diagnosis of hypothyroidism.Aim: Evaluate the temporality and type of morbidity in hypothyroid patients.Methods: Observational cohort study. Based on record-linking between official Danish health registers 2822 subje...

Background: Hypothyroidism is one of the most frequent conditions in endocrinology. Despite of that fact, indications for treatment differ among specialists in Spain.Aims: To identify attitudes of Spanish endocrinologists in the use of levothyroxine (LT4) therapy and the management of hypothyroidism.Methods: The members of the Sociedad Española de Endocrinología y Nutrición (Spanish Society of Endocrinology ...