Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Recent studies suggest that metformin (MF) may reduce TSH concentration. This fact could imply a dosage reduction of levothyroxine among those hypothyroid patients taking metformin.Aim: To determine, in a retrospective analysis, the impact of metformin in thyroidectomized patients (a condition not influenced by endogenous thyroid hormone production) on levothyroxine replacement.Patients and methods: One hundred ninety t...

One of the most important activating genetic aberrations in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) development pathways involves the RET/PTC–RAS–RAF–MAPK axis. Mutations in the RET gene are essential in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Sorafenib is the first compound to reach clinical practice that is capable of inhibiting all the RAF kinases. Moreover, it targets a panel of tyrosine kinase receptors, such as VEGF receptors which gives to sorafenib not only proap...

Aim: Investigate, in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) if thyroglobulin (Tg) values, immediately before and six months post radioiodine ablation are good predictors of disease progression.Materials and methods: Basal Tg values (Tg-B) and rhTSH stimulated Tg (Tg-S) before ablation (0) and 6 months later (6) from 142 DTC patients, with post-surgical ablation therapy between 2003 and 2009 with a follow up of 5 years, were analysed.<p cla...

In PTC, radioiodine required dose for thyroid remnant ablation is uncertain. Recent works show that low doses may be sufficient for low risk patients.Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of thyroid remnant ablation in patients with low-risk PTC by using 1100 MBq (30 mCi) outpatient doses.Materials and methods: Twenty-five patients (24 women, 55 years-old mean age, range 34–77) referred for ablation of postsurgical thyroid ...

Introduction: Generously supported by IPSEN)-->Carbohydrate metabolism (CHM) is impaired in over 30% of acromegalic patients. Natural history of acromegaly and treatment modalities, i.e. surgery, somatostatin analogues (SSA) and pegvisomant, may impact in a different way on CHM.Aim: To assess CHM alterations (impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and diabetes mellitus (DM)) in acromegaly and their relationship with cl...

Background and aim: Papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) with a diameter <1 cm are referred to as papillary microcarcinomas (PTMCs). They are being diagnosed with increasing frequency. Within this type of tumour some clinical and histological characteristics with prognostic and therapeutic impact have been proposed. In the present study we describe the clinical and pathological presentation of PTMCs and compare them with papillary thyroid carcinomas of larger size.<p cl...

Introduction: Classically, risk stratification in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) assigned the same magnitude of risk to all patients with regional lymph node involvement (N1 disease). However, specific lymph node characteristics (such as size, number, extension, etc.) will allow individualizing treatment and follow-up. One-Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA) measures the number of copies of mRNA of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) as a marker of lymph node metastasis. Thus, copy nu...

Background: Acromegaly (ACRO) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, however, there is no evidence of an increase in ischemic heart disease in these patients. We hypothesized that non-classical cardiovascular risk factors such as epicardial fat (EF), interventricular septum thickness (IST), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), may be increased in ACRO and contribute to this higher cardiovascular morbidity.Objective: To eva...

Background: The Ectopic ACTH Syndromes (EAS) often associated with severe hypercortisolism are really a challenge.Case presentation: We report the case of a 48-year-old woman, newly diagnosed with hypertension, hypokalemia despite renin-angiotensin blockers intake, and complaints of intense fatigue, muscular weakness, and easy bruising, which worse in four months. EAS was biochemically confirmed, but two urinary catecholamines collection were negatives d...

Introduction: The relationship between the BRAF gene mutation in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and the presence of lymph node metastasis (LNM) is a subject of controversy.Objective: To analyse the influence of BRAF mutation status in the characteristics of lymph nodes in patients with PTC submitted to lymph node dissection (LND).Material and methods: Lymph nodes obtained from 20 patients (12 females, mean age 50±15 y...