1/8. Renal failure and acquired hypothyroidism.The effects of thyroid metabolism on renal function in children are barely referred to in the literature. Primary hypothyroidism is known to be associated with a consistent elevation in serum creatinine levels. This is essentially because of the hypodynamic state that occurs in hypothyroidism, leading to a reduced glomerular filtration rate and hypercreatinemia. A teenager who developed renal failure due to primary hypothyroidism is reported. He displayed diverse serum biochemistry anomalies with an unremarkable physical examination. thyroxine replacement therapy completely restored the euthyroid state and renal function. We propose, in accordance with other authors, measurement of thyrotropin levels in patients with hypercreatinemia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/8. Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary tumor and Hashimoto's disease: a novel association.A 69-year-old man was referred for elevated thyroid hormone levels. He had no symptoms apart from mild hyperhidrosis and heat intolerance with occasional headaches. Past medical history included a right hemithyroidectomy for a multinodular goiter and Hashimoto's disease. At presentation the patient had a firm, slightly enlarged left thyroid lobe. There were no visual abnormalities, and the rest of the physical findings were unremarkable. Laboratory findings included elevated values of free T4, free T3, total T3, thyrotropin-secreting hormone (TSH), antithyroglobulin, and antimicrosomal antibodies. Normal values were found for cortisol, prolactin, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, alpha-subunit, and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin. Thyroid 123I scan showed an increased 5-hour uptake of 23% and a 24-hour uptake of 53% with a diffuse uniform enlargement of the left side. TSH level did not increase after a thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test. serum sex hormone binding globulin was elevated. magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary revealed a pituitary macroadenoma with suprasellar extension to the optic chiasm. Histologic examination of the adenoma after transsphenoidal hypophysectomy showed cells that stained positive for TSH. TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas account for 1% of functioning pituitary tumors and are an exceedingly rare cause of hyperthyroidism. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pituitary tumor inducing hyperthyroidism in the setting of Hashimoto's disease. There is a possibility that TSH elevation related to Hashimoto's disease might have contributed to the development of a TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/8. Isolated nasopharyngeal aspergillosis caused by A flavus and associated with oxalosis.We report a case of isolated nasopharyngeal aspergillosis in a 52-year-old woman with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. We found the nasopharyngeal lesion incidentally while evaluating bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy, which we had discovered during a routine follow-up examination pursuant to the patient's thyroid problem. biopsy analysis of the nasopharyngeal lesion revealed the presence of a mycelium made up of septate hyphae and associated oxalosis. Mycologic examination confirmed that aspergillus flavus was the responsible pathogen. No systemic involvement or involvement of other head and neck sites was found. The patient had been exposed to a considerable amount of dust during the construction of her house, and this may have been the precipitating factor in the development of her infection. We treated the patient with a 4-week course of itraconazole. At the end of therapy, she exhibited no evidence of A flavus on physical and mycologic examinations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/8. Idiopatic angioedema treated with dapsone.The most commonly identified causes of angioedema are medications, allergens and physical agents, but most cases of angioedema are idiopathic. Treatment depends on identification of the causative agent and, especially when the mechanism is not identified, on the clinicians knowledge and experience with innovative therapeutic regimens. CASE REPORT: A 48-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of recurrent severe episodes of angioedema affecting the lips, tongue and throat. A fiberoptic examination revealed laryngeal edema during some episodes. He did not report abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting. No precipitating factors were identified. The patient was not receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. For the previous 4 years, the patient had been receiving levothyroxine for autoimmune thyroiditis. There was no history of facial palsy or hereditary angioedema. ALLERGY STUDY: skin prick test with aeroallergens, food, latex, anisakis and patch test to a standard series (true test) were negative. Laboratory investigations revealed normal complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, urinalysis, blood biochemistry, serum protein electrophoresis and serum immunoglobulins. IgE concentration was 30 UI/ml. Antiperoxidase antibodies were positive (535 UI/ml). Antinuclear antibodies serum immune complexes and rheumatoid factor were negative. Complement study during acute and asymptomatic periods revealed normal values of C1 esterase inhibitor, C1q, C3, C4, functional activity of C1 inhibitor and CH50. No pathologic findings were observed in a lip biopsy. The patient was treated with sedating and nonsedating H1 antihistamines and corticosteroids (prednisone 30 mg/day for 3 months) with no clinical improvement and treatment with 50 mg of dapsone daily was started. glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency had previously been ruled out. The patient improved and antihistamine and corticoid treatment was withdrawn 1 month after starting the dapsone regimen. No episodes of angioedema appeared during the subsequent year. No reductions in hematologic parameters or adverse events were detected. dapsone may be an alternative drug in extreme cases of idiopathic angioedema in patients with poor response to conventional therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/8. Autoimmune thyroiditis in 18q deletion syndrome.Deletion of a segment of the long arm of chromosome 18 causes characteristic physical features and mental retardation. Autoimmune disorders have been described with this syndrome in a limited number of reports. We describe 2 cases of autoimmune hypothyroidism in children with 18q deletion syndrome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/8. Primary hypothyroidism presenting as ovarian tumor and precocious puberty in a prepubertal girl.We report a case of a prepubertal girl with juvenile primary hypothyroidism presenting as ovarian cysts and precocious puberty. The 7-year-old female was referred to our clinic because of a pelvic/abdominal mass and vaginal bleeding. Besides these findings, on physical examination we noticed the thyroid gland globally increased and the presence of secondary sexual characteristics. Based upon the clinical profile and investigations, the patient was diagnosed with juvenile primary hypothyroidism due to autoimmune thyroiditis. The cysts and precocious puberty resolved spontaneously after the simple replacement of thyroid hormone. It is important to bear in mind hypothyroidism in cases of girls presenting ovarian cysts and precocious puberty in order to avoid unnecessary surgery on the ovaries.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/8. Surgical intervention in chronic (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis.The incidence of chronic (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis in surgical specimens is relatively high, i.e., 13% in collected studies, for a disease with clinical and laboratory characteristics that are sufficiently specific, that thyroidectomy should rarely be required for diagnosis or treatment. This incidence is presumably related to the difficulty in distinguishing between thyroiditis and a thyroid neoplasm. Experience with 260 thyroidectomies at the north carolina Memorial Hospital performed between 1875 and 1980 for a dominant thyroid mass was reviewed to determine the reliability of criteria for diagnosis and the indications for surgical treatment. Using the criteria of clinical findings, complemented by laboratory studies, e.g., free thyroxine index, thyroid autoantibodies, TSH level, thyroid scan, in addition to the judicious use of the cutting (core) needle biopsy procedure, the incidence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis in this series was 3% and cancer-27%. Four patients had Hashimoto's thyroiditis coincidental to another disease for which thyroidectomy was performed. In seven patients Hashimoto's thyroiditis alone constituted the indications for operation. The indications for operation in these patients were: autonomous function with mild hyperthyroidism (2 patients); associated cold nodule (2 patients); thyromegaly unresponsive to suppressive therapy (2 patients); and rapidly enlarging mass simulating a neoplasm (1 patient). Only one of 71 patients with well differentiated carcinoma had Hashimoto's thyroiditis. One patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis had associated lymphoma. In most patients, Hashimoto's thyroiditis can be identified using appropriate clinical and laboratory criteria without resorting to thyroidectomy to differentiate between thyroiditis and a neoplasm. Operations are indicated in patients with suspected or established chronic thyroiditis for: 1) the presence of a dominant mass with incomplete regression on suppressive therapy. 2) Progression of thyromegaly despite suppressive therapy. 3) Historic or physical findings suggest a malignancy, e.g., irradiation, multiple endocrine adenomatosis (MEA) syndrome, nerve paralysis, pain, tracheal compression, stipple calcification and cervical lymph node enlargement. 4) Indeterminant findings on cutting needle biopsy, e.g., lymphoma versus thyroiditis. Rarely, an operation is required for an oppressive goiter or associated hyperthyroidism.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/8. A boy with atrophic thyroiditis of prepubertal onset, who was positive for TSH-binding inhibitor immunoglobulins.A 12 year old boy was admitted to our hospital because of short stature. From the age of 7, his growth velocity decreased and he manifested intolerance to low temperatures, hoarseness, dry skin, and slowness of thought and physical movement. On admission, his height was 129.8 cm (-3 s.d.) and his body weight was 43.2 kg (-0.5 s.d.). His clinical features also included relaxation phase of tendon reflexes, periorbital puffiness and cold skin but no struma. His bone age was 9 years. His serum thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), free T4 and free T3 were low, while his thyrotropin was high. He was positive for antithyroglobulin antibodies, antimicrosomal antibodies, and TSH-binding inhibitor immunoglobulins. He was diagnosed as having atrophic thyroiditis. We also determined the HLA haplotypes of his family members. His father's HLA haplotypes were A2, BW61(a) and A24, BW52(b), while his mother's haplotypes were A24, BW52(c) and A30, BW60(d). The HLA haplotypes of both the patient and his younger brother showed a and d, while the patient's elder brother's HLA haplotypes showed b and c. His family members all had normal thyroid function, but his father was positive for antimicrosomal antibodies. In summary, we describe a rare case where the onset of hypothyroidism was prepubertal, where the pathogenesis may have involved TSH-receptor blocking antibodies, and where the inheritance of the disease may have been from the paternal side of the family.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |