Is It Necessary to Measure Thyroid Hormone Levels in Children Receiving Antiepileptic Drugs?

2018 ◽  
Vol 07 (04) ◽  
pp. 136-141
Author(s):  
Reem A. Abdel Aziz ◽  
Mostafa A. Abu ELela

Purpose This article evaluates the effect of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on thyroid function tests in children with epilepsy. Methodology One hundred twenty children were studied, with 40 patients taking older generation AEDs Na valproate (N = 20) and carbamazepine (N = 20), 40 patients taking newer generation AEDs levetiracetam (N = 20) and oxcarbazepine (N = 20), and 40 healthy children as controls. Serum T3, T4, FT4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured. Results Patients taking Na valproate had lower T3, T4, and a higher TSH level than controls. Patients taking carbamazepine had the lowest T3, T4, and FT4 serum levels among patients receiving AEDs. Conclusion The thyroid function tests were affected by the use of Na valproate and carbamazepine compared to both the control group and the group taking newer AEDs oxcarbazepine and levetiracetam. In addition, there was no effect of levetiracetam on thyroid function test results.

Author(s):  
Elif Çelik ◽  
Ayşe Anık

INTRODUCTION: Thyroid function tests are among the most frequently implemented laboratory tests in primary, and secondary healthcare institutions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics and final diagnosis of children referred by primary and secondary healthcare institutions with the suspicion of an abnormality in thyroid function test and/or with the initial diagnosis of specific thyroid disease. METHODS: A total of two hundred eighty-nine pediatric patients, aged between 4 and 18 years admitted to the outpatient clinics of Behçet Uz Children’s Health and Diseases Hospital between January 2018 and January 2020, were included in the study. The patient data were obtained retrospectively from the hospital records. RESULTS: A total of 66% of the patients who were included in the study were female with a median age of 12 years (8.7-14.4), while 64% of them were pubertal; and 78% of the cases were referred by secondary healthcare institutions. The most common reason for referral was isolated elevation of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). A total of 56% of the patients were asymptomatic at the time of admission, and thyroid function test results of 75% of them were within normal limits. When evaluated according to their final diagnoses, the children were normal/healthy (64%), diagnosed with Hashimoto thyroiditis (30%), nodular thyroid disease (3%), Graves disease (2%) and isolated increase of TSH was related to obesity in 5 patients (1%). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It is essential to evaluate children with abnormal thyroid function test results with detailed history and physical examination. Besides, the thyroid function tests should be performed with reliable and sensitive methods in standardized laboratories to reach the correct diagnosis in these children.


2021 ◽  
pp. 73-76
Author(s):  
Vasudev Sankhla ◽  
Aman Deep

Thyroid function tests are one of the most common endocrine panels in general practice because a good understanding of when to order them, indications for treatment are important for the optimal treatment of thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) should be the rst test to be performed on any patient with suspected thyroid dysfunction and in follow-up of individuals on treatment. It is useful as a rst-line test because even small changes in thyroid function are sufcient to cause a signicant increase in TSH secretion. Thyroxine levels may be assessed in a patient with hyperthyroidism, to determine the severity of hyperthyroxinemia. Antithyroid peroxidase measurements should be considered while evaluating patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and can facilitate the identication of autoimmune thyroiditis during the evaluation of nodular thyroid disease. The measurement of TSH receptor antibody must be considered when conrmation of Graves’ disease is needed and radioactive iodine uptake cannot be done.


Author(s):  
Vasim Ismail Patel ◽  
Akshay B. K.

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The thyroid is an<strong> </strong>endocrine gland. It secretes two hormones thyroxine (T<sub>4</sub>), triiodothyronine (T<sub>3</sub>). Hypothyroidism is a common condition encountered by a clinician. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) defined as normal free thyroxine (T4) and elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), is primarily a biochemical diagnosis with or without clinical symptoms. Studies have observed that TSH levels vary at different times in a day. In practice not much importance is given to the timing of the sample collection (pre-prandial or post-prandial sate). SCH is diagnosed depending on TSH value. So the condition may be under or over diagnosed based on a single value. So we conducted this study to determine whether timing of sample collection had any significant relationship in the determination of levels of thyroid hormones.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The study was carried on 114 patients who visited ENT department, NMCH between July 2018 and June 2019. Group-1 consisted of 38 normal patients. Group-2 consisted of 36 hypothyroidism patients GROUP-3 consisted of 40 subclinical hypothyroidism patients. Thyroid function tests (TSH and free T4) were done in fasting state and 2 hours postprandially.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> TSH values were found to be significantly lowered after food in all the three groups. Free T4 values did not show any statistically significant alteration after food.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> There was a significant decline in TSH values postprandially. This might lead to inappropriate diagnosis and management of patients as cases of hypothyroidism, especially in cases of sub clinical hypothyroidism.</p>


Author(s):  
Jayne A. Franklyn

Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined biochemically as the association of a raised serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration with normal circulating concentrations of free thyroxine (T4) and free triiodothyronine (T3). The term subclinical hypothyroidism implies that patients should be asymptomatic, although symptoms are difficult to assess, especially in patients in whom thyroid function tests have been checked because of nonspecific complaints such as tiredness. An expert panel has recently classified individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism into two groups (1): (1) those with mildly elevated serum TSH (typically TSH in the range 4.5–10.0 mU/l) and (2) those with more marked TSH elevation (serum TSH >10.0 mU/l).


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 408-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktoriya L Nikolova ◽  
Keerati Pattanaseri ◽  
Diego Hidalgo-Mazzei ◽  
David Taylor ◽  
Allan H Young

Background: Lithium is widely used for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Owing to its narrow therapeutic index and side-effect profile, regular monitoring of serum levels, renal and thyroid function has been recommended by all major guidelines on lithium use. Objectives: We investigated whether lithium monitoring during maintenance phase treatment in clinical practice meets the latest recommendation by the National Institute for Health and Clinical excellence (i.e. lithium levels between 0.6 and 1.0 mmol/L and lithium level, thyroid and renal function tests every 6 months) in one of the largest mental health organizations in Europe, the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust. Methods: Retrospective data were extracted from SLaM’s Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) system. Adult patients with a psychiatric disorder who were on lithium at any point during the period January 2012–January 2016 and had at least one lithium level test result in the system were included in the analyses. Results: A total of 2639 lithium level tests results were retrieved for 412 patients. Overall, the serum level was within the recommended range in 50.7% of all tests, below the range in 42.4% and above in 6.9%. Lithium level, renal and thyroid function tests were performed at the recommended frequency of 6 months (or less) in 76.2%, 72.7% and 60.2% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that there is a gap between the NICE 2014 recommendation and lithium monitoring practice in secondary care, with a high number of lithium level results below the therapeutic minimum. Reminder strategies for secondary care practitioners, shared care agreements or a central registry for lithium users could improve monitoring performance.


1978 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Korsager ◽  
E. M. Chatham ◽  
H. P. Østergaard Kristensen

ABSTRACT Thyroid status was studied in 24 patients above the age of 40 years with Down's syndrome. Three patients had thyroid function tests indicating hypothyroidism. Eight patients had thyroid autoantibodies in serum and 8 patients had a higher than normal level of thyroid stimulating hormone in serum. None of the patients had figures indicating thyrotoxicosis. None of the patients showed any of the clinical signs usually seen in patients with hypothyroidism. It is concluded that biochemical tests indicating hypothyroidism are much more often seen in patients with Down's syndrome than in normal subjects and that thyroid status should be assessed in old patients with this disease.


Author(s):  
Ashwini S. Rathod ◽  
Girija A. Ghate ◽  
Ammu Korah ◽  
Lakshmi Krishnan ◽  
Ruchir R. Dashora

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Thyroid swellings are very frequently encountered in ENT practice, ranging from a simple cyst to a malignant tumour. Disorder of structure of thyroid gland, due to various etiological factors, will give rise to swelling in the neck region. Clinical signs and symptoms are inadequate to diagnose thyroid disorders as similar presentations are seen in various thyroid disorders. So, this study of thyroid swellings was done to know different clinical presentations, age and sex distribution, correlation between thyroid swellings and thyroid function tests, analyse various thyroid swellings and etiological factors based on pathological reports.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A prospective study with 50 patients of thyroid swellings was conducted over 2 years, after taking consent from each patient. Patients were clinically examined by inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation and underwent thyroid function tests. Ultrasonography (USG) and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was done in all patients.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Total 50 patients of thyroid swellings were studied. Mean age of the patients was 38.92 years with female preponderance (74%). Thyroid swellings were commonly present bilaterally (54%). 82% cases showed euthyroid state. USG revealed that most of the patients had colloid nodule (46%), followed by MNG (26%). Majority of lesions were benign on both USG and FNAC reports. MNG (44%) was reported frequently in the provisional diagnosis, followed by colloid nodule (24%).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> In all cases of thyroid swellings, detailed clinical history, thorough clinical examination is required. Thyroid function test, USG and FNAC reports help to reach the definitive diagnosis. Histopathological report confirms and gives final diagnosis.</p><p> </p>


Author(s):  
Iskender Ekinci ◽  
Hande Peynirci

Background: There are limited data about the factors affecting the response time to medical treatment in Graves’ disease (GD) although many studies examined the predictors of the relapse after drug withdrawal. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the time for becoming euthyroid under antithyroid drug (ATD) therapy and the parameters influencing this period in patients diagnosed as GD.Methods: Patients with newly-diagnosed GD and decided to treat with ATD initially between March 2017 and September 2018 were retrieved retrospectively. Sociodemographic features as well as laboratory parameters like thyroid function tests and thyroid-stimulating hormone-receptor antibody (TRab) at the time of diagnosis were recorded.Results: Out of 41 patients, 63.4% (n=26) were female. The mean age was 36.1±11.7 years and 43.9% (n=18) of them were smoking. The time between the initiation of treatment and the duration of becoming euthyroid was 2.4±1.8 months. No significant difference was noted between age, gender, and smoking status and the time to become euthyroid under ATD treatment. This period was significantly positively correlated with levels of free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and negatively correlated with thyroid-stimulating hormone. Response to ATD therapy was higher in patients with pre-treatment TRab levels <10 IU/l than TRab ≥10 IU/l (p=0.011).Conclusions: Pretreatment thyroid function tests and TRab levels may be taken into consideration before deciding treatment in patients with newly diagnosed GD. It would be useful to design more comprehensive studies so that this proposal can find a response in clinical practice.


Author(s):  
Jonathan Brown ◽  
Luqman Sardar

Summary A 68-year-old previously independent woman presented multiple times to hospital over the course of 3 months with a history of intermittent weakness, vacant episodes, word finding difficulty and reduced cognition. She was initially diagnosed with a TIA, and later with a traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage following a fall; however, despite resolution of the haemorrhage, symptoms were ongoing and continued to worsen. Confusion screen blood tests showed no cause for the ongoing symptoms. More specialised investigations, such as brain imaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, electroencephalogram and serology also gave no clear diagnosis. The patient had a background of hypothyroidism, with plasma thyroid function tests throughout showing normal free thyroxine and a mildly raised thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). However plasma anti-thyroid peroxidise (TPO) antibody titres were very high. After discussion with specialists, it was felt she may have a rare and poorly understood condition known as Hashimoto’s encephalopathy (HE). After a trial with steroids, her symptoms dramatically improved and she was able to live independently again, something which would have been impossible at presentation. Learning points: In cases of subacute onset confusion where most other diagnoses have already been excluded, testing for anti-thyroid antibodies can identify patients potentially suffering from HE. In these patients, and under the guidance of specialists, a trial of steroids can dramatically improve patient’s symptoms. The majority of patients are euthyroid at the time of presentation, and so normal thyroid function tests should not prevent anti-thyroid antibodies being tested for. Due to high titres of anti-thyroid antibodies being found in a small percentage of the healthy population, HE should be treated as a diagnosis of exclusion, particularly as treatment with steroids may potentially worsen the outcome in other causes of confusion, such as infection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 01-05
Author(s):  
Sorush Niknamian

Objective: Investigating high iodine containing low osmolar contrast agent (visipaque) effects on thyroid function tests and thyroid sonography characteristics. Methods: 65 euthyroid cases and 92 controls composed the samples in baseline. Thyroid function tests, Urine Iodine Concentration (UIC) and thyroid sonography were conducted for both groups before and 1 and 3 months after angiography. Serum levels of T4, T3, T3RU, TSH, TPO-Ab and UIC were measured, and hypo/heyperthyroidism prevalence was compared between groups. Results: Mean T3,T4 and TSH changes 1 month after angiography were insignificant in both groups (P:0.61,P:0.4 and P:0.14, P:0.23 in cases and controls for T3 and T4). Medians among cases and controls were 12.8 and 16.75 µg/dl, respectively, at baseline. These values varied to 28.45 and 15.2µg/dl, and 12.95 and 14.2µg/dl 1 month and 3 months after angiography in case and control groups, respectively. UIC increase one month after angiography was significant among cases (P=0.002). TPO-Ab+ were same 3 months after angiography. Thyroid volume changes were significant among cases (P<0.001) and insignificant among controls (P=0.680). No significant difference was seen between cases and controls in overt hypothyroidism, however, a considerable change was seen in thyroid volume and UIC one month after angiography among cases. The hypothyroidism rate among cases was insignificant which may be either related to few cases or short half-life of visipaque (2.1 hour) so that 97% of injected dose was excreted in urine within 24 hours. Conclusion: Thyroid function test is not recommended before angiography in patients without previous thyroid records.


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