Quantitative thyroid scintigraphy for the differentiation of Graves’ disease and hyperthyroid autoimmune thyroiditis

2004 ◽  
Vol 43 (04) ◽  
pp. 124-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. O. Sahlmann ◽  
U. Siefker ◽  
K. Lehmann ◽  
E. Harms ◽  
M. Conrad ◽  
...  

Summary Aim: The TCTUs (global 99mTc-pertechnetate thyroid uptake under suppression) can be used as an estimate of the iodine clearance of non-TSH regulated tissue. High TCTUs levels are characteristic for Graves’ disease (GD). Decreased uptake has been described in autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). However, systematically investigated data in a larger series of AIT-patients with subclinical or overt hyperthyroidism are not published so far. The purpose of this study is the evaluation of the TCTUs in the differentiation between AIT and GD in patients with hyperthyroidism. Methods: We determined the TCTUs in 59 patients with untreated hyperthyroid GD and in 51 patients with AIT who had subclinical or manifest hyperthyroidism without medication. Patients with GD were characterized by the presence of hyperthyroidism, decreased echogenicity of the thyroid, elevation of TSH-receptor autoantibodies (TRAb). AIT was defined by a decreased echogenicity of the thyroid, absence of elevated TSH-receptor autoantibodies (TRAb), autoantibodies against the thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and spontaneous remission or development of subclinical hypothyroidism within 3 months. Results: Thyroid volumes of patients with AIT were significantly lower than those of patients with GD (p <0.05). TRAb levels were significantly higher in GD-patients (median: 19.5 U/ml; range: 15.3-35 U/ml) than in AIT-patients (median: 1.3 U/ml; range: 0-4.1 U/ml). 73% (38/59) of patients with GD had elevated anti-TPO levels. In these patients anti-TPO levels (median: 768 U/l; range: 83-6397 U/l) were not significantly different from anti-TPO levels of patients with AIT (median: 834 U/l; range: 107-8675 U/l; p = 0.17). TCTUs values of patients with AIT were significantly lower (p <0.05; median: 0.9%; range: 0.1-3.2%) than those of patients with GD (median: 5.7%; range: 1.9-28.3%). Conclusion: In our patients quantitative thyroid scintigraphy with 99mTcO4 - offered rapid and reliable differentiation between hyperthyroid GD and AIT.

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samer El-Kaissi ◽  
Jack R. Wall

Background. To examine factors contributing to extraocular muscle (EOM) volume enlargement in patients with Graves’ hyperthyroidism.Methods. EOM volumes were measured with orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 39 patients with recently diagnosed Graves’ disease, and compared to EOM volumes of 13 normal volunteers. Thyroid function tests, uptake on thyroid scintigraphy, anti-TSH-receptor antibody positivity and other parameters were then evaluated in patients with EOM enlargement.Results. 31/39 patients had one or more enlarged EOM, of whom only 2 patients had clinical EOM dysfunction. Compared to Graves’ disease patients with normal EOM volumes, those with EOM enlargement had significantly higher mean serum TSH (0.020±0.005versus0.007±0.002mIU/L;Pvalue 0.012), free-T4 (52.9±3.3versus41.2±1.7 pmol/L;Pvalue 0.003) and technetium uptake on thyroid scintigraphy (13.51±1.7%versus8.55±1.6%;Pvalue 0.045). There were no differences between the 2 groups in anti-TSH-receptor antibody positivity, the proportion of males, tobacco smokers, or those with active ophthalmopathy.Conclusions. Patients with recently diagnosed Graves’ disease and EOM volume enlargement have higher serum TSH and more severe hyperthyroidism than patients with normal EOM volumes, with no difference in anti-TSH-receptor antibody positivity between the two groups.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Lhotta ◽  
Emanuel Zitt ◽  
Hannelore Sprenger-Mähr ◽  
Lorin Loacker ◽  
Alexander Becherer

Graves’ disease (GD) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) are autoimmune diseases caused by autoantibodies against the TSH receptor (TRAb) and the enzyme ADAMTS13. We here report on two patients with concurrent GD and TTP, who achieved sustained remission of both conditions with the TTP treatment regimen and thiamazole. Both patients suffered from relapsing TTP and were diagnosed with GD concomitantly at the time of relapse. They were treated with steroids, plasma exchange, rituximab, and thiamazole. This therapy induced complete remission of TTP. TRAb levels also decreased rapidly and both patients developed subclinical hypothyroidism three and five weeks later. Our observations suggest that TTP and GD may be concomitant and that GD possibly triggers a relapse of TTP. The combination of thyrostatic treatment and immunosuppression with PE, rituximab, and steroids is able to induce rapid and prolonged remission of GD.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro Takei ◽  
Hiroaki Ishii ◽  
Yoshihiko Sato ◽  
Mitsuhisa Komatsu

We herein describe a case of Marine-Lenhart syndrome with a negative TSH receptor antibody titer. A 75-year-old female presented to our hospital with malaise, palpitations, and mild fine tremors. She did not have any signs suggestive of Graves’ ophthalmopathy, including conjunctival injection, periorbital edema, or proptosis. Her laboratory data were negative for thyroid autoantibodies, including anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, and anti-TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb). Ultrasonography of the thyroid gland revealed a tumor in the right lobe. The remaining thyroid gland had an inhomogeneous and rough texture with a high color Doppler flow. I123scintigraphy disclosed a hot nodule in the right thyroid gland corresponding to the tumor detected on ultrasonography, suggesting Plummer disease. Furthermore, there was an increased uptake of radionuclide in the rest of the thyroid gland, despite the suppressed level of TSH and negative titer of TRAb, suggesting underlying Graves’ disease. The present findings suggested a diagnosis of Marine-Lenhart syndrome with a negative TRAb titer. Treatment with 10 mCi of radioiodine was highly effective in treating hyperthyroidism in this case. A negative TSH receptor antibody titer does not necessarily rule out the existence of Graves’ disease in patients with Plummer disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 788-795
Author(s):  
Samaneh Shahrokh Esfahani ◽  
Aliye Tabatabaee ◽  
Ashraf Aminorroaya ◽  
Masoud Amini ◽  
Awat Feizi ◽  
...  

Background: The Isfahan Thyroid Cohort Study (ITCS) is one of the few population-based epidemiological studies in Iran that investigates the prevalence and incidence of thyroid disorders including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, goiter, nodule, and iodine status. Methods: This cohort is located in Isfahan, Iran. The first phase was initiated in 2006 with 2523 participants (1275 males, 1248 females). The participants were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling from the general residents of Isfahan, Iran. The study had two phases (2006 and 2011) and its third stage is planned for 2020–2021. Results: The prevalence of thyroid function states was euthyroid (89.3%, 95% CI: 88%–90%), overt hypothyroidism (2.8%, 95% CI: 2%‒3%), subclinical hypothyroidism (5.8%, 95% CI: 4%–6%), overt hyperthyroidism (0.8%, 95% CI: 0.4%‒1%), and subclinical hyperthyroidism (0.99%, 95% CI: 0.6%–1%). Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism were significantly associated with goiter. The incidence of thyroid dysfunction was reported as follows: overt hypothyroidism (2.7, 95% CI: 1.6–3.7), subclinical hypothyroidism (20.6, 95% CI: 18–23), overt hyperthyroidism (1.9, 95% CI: 1–2.7) and subclinical hyperthyroidism (2.7, 95% CI: 1.6–3.7) per 1000 (person-year). Conclusion: We assessed the prevalence and incidence of thyroid disorders in Isfahan in the first and second phase, respectively. We are conducting the third phase of the ITCS in order to study the associations between thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) level and environmental factors such as infection.


2011 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 548-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Neumann ◽  
Elena Eliseeva ◽  
Joshua G. McCoy ◽  
Giorgio Napolitano ◽  
Cesidio Giuliani ◽  
...  

abstract Context: Graves' disease (GD) is caused by persistent, unregulated stimulation of thyrocytes by thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAbs) that activate the TSH receptor (TSHR). We previously reported the first small-molecule antagonist of human TSHR and showed that it inhibited receptor signaling stimulated by sera from four patients with GD. Objective: Our objective was to develop a better TSHR antagonist and use it to determine whether inhibition of TSAb activation of TSHR is a general phenomenon. Design: We aimed to chemically modify a previously reported small-molecule TSHR ligand to develop a better antagonist and determine whether it inhibits TSHR signaling by 30 GD sera. TSHR signaling was measured in two in vitro systems: model HEK-EM293 cells stably overexpressing human TSHRs and primary cultures of human thyrocytes. TSHR signaling was measured as cAMP production and by effects on thyroid peroxidase mRNA. Results: We tested analogs of a previously reported small-molecule TSHR inverse agonist and selected the best NCGC00229600 for further study. In the model system, NCGC00229600 inhibited basal and TSH-stimulated cAMP production. NCGC00229600 inhibition of TSH signaling was competitive even though it did not compete for TSH binding; that is, NCGC00229600 is an allosteric inverse agonist. NCGC00229600 inhibited cAMP production by 39 ± 2.6% by all 30 GD sera tested. In primary cultures of human thyrocytes, NCGC00229600 inhibited TSHR-mediated basal and GD sera up-regulation of thyroperoxidase mRNA levels by 65 ± 2.0%. Conclusion: NCGC00229600, a small-molecule allosteric inverse agonist of TSHR, is a general antagonist of TSH receptor activation by TSAbs in GD patient sera.


Author(s):  
S. Khamisi ◽  
M. Lundqvist ◽  
P. Emadi ◽  
K. Almby ◽  
Ö. Ljunggren ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Serum thyroglobulin levels are often elevated in Graves’ disease (GD) and in most cases decrease during treatment. Its relation to Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) has not been clarified. Previously, a risk of GO has been linked to smoking, TSH receptor stimulation, high TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAb), low thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies (TPOAb, TgAb). Methods We examined Tg levels in 30 consecutive patients with GD were given drug therapy (methimazole + thyroxine) for up to 24 months. GO was identified by clinical signs and symptoms. 17 patients had GO, 11 of whom had it at diagnosis while 6 developed GO during treatment. During the study, 5 subjects were referred to radioiodine treatment, 3 to surgery. The remaining 22 subjects (GO n = 12, non-GO n = 10) completed the drug regimen. Results At diagnosis, Tg levels in GO patients (n = 11) were higher (84, 30–555 µg/L, median, range) than in non-GO patients (n = 19) (38, 3.5–287 µg/L), p = 0.042. Adding the 6 subjects who developed eye symptoms during treatment to the GO group (n = 17), yielded p = 0.001 vs. non-GO (n = 13). TRAb tended to be higher, while TPOAb and TgAb tended to be lower in the GO group. For the 22 patients who completed the drug regimen, Tg levels were higher in GO (n = 12) vs. non-GO (n = 10), p = 0.004, whereas TRAb levels did not differ. Conclusion The data may suggest that evaluation of thyroglobulin levels in GD could contribute to identify patients at increased risk of developing GO. Possibly, thyroidal release of Tg in GD reflects a disturbance that also impacts retroorbital tissues.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Nordio ◽  
Raffaella Pajalich

Background. Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, is the most common form of thyroiditis affecting more than 10% of females and 2% of males. The present study aims to evaluate the beneficial effect of a combined treatment, Myo-Inositol plus selenomethionine, on subclinical hypothyroidism.Methods. The study was designed as a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Eligible patients were women diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism having Tg antibodies (TgAb) titer higher than 350 IU/mL. Outcome measures were Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels, thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and TgAb titer, selenium, and Myo-Inositol plasma concentration.Results. In the present paper, we demonstrated that the beneficial effects obtained by selenomethionine treatment on patients affected by subclinical hypothyroidism, likely due to the presence of autoantibody (TPOAb and TgAb), are further improved by cotreatment with Myo-Inositol.Conclusions. Indeed, due to its action as TSH second messenger, Myo-Inositol treatment reduces TSH levels closer to physiological concentrations.


2005 ◽  
Vol 113 (S 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Schott ◽  
WB Minich ◽  
C Papewalis ◽  
J Seissler ◽  
WA Scherbaum ◽  
...  

1983 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tjerk W. A de Bruin ◽  
Daan van der Heide ◽  
Maria C. Krol

Abstract. An immunoprecipitation assay was developed to determine the presence of antibodies against human TSH1 receptors. With this assay we were able to demonstrate that in comparison with sera from normal controls, 24 out of 30 (80%) sera from patients with untreated Graves' disease could immunoprecipitate more [125I]TSH-TSH receptor complexes. In 9 assays, an average of 14.1 ± 3.7% (sd) of the [125I]TSH-TSH receptor complexes was immunoprecipitated by the 30 Graves' sera vs 9.8 ± 3.0% by the normal pool serum (n = 23) (P < 0.001) and 7.7 ± 2.8% by the 22 normal sera (P < 0.001). One serum of the 24 positive Graves' sera was studied in detail. The results suggest that this serum contained an anti-TSH receptor auto-antibody directed towards a different determinant on the TSH receptor than the TSH binding site.


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