scholarly journals An autoimmune cause of confusion in a patient with a background of hypothyroidism

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Brown ◽  
Luqman Sardar
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
List Type ◽  
Thyroid Function Tests ◽  
Thyroid Antibodies ◽  
Fluid Analysis ◽  
Normal Thyroid Function ◽  
Function Tests ◽  
Antibody Titres

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.

THYROID FUNCTION TESTS: A REVIEW

2021 ◽  
pp. 73-76
Author(s):  
Vasudev Sankhla ◽  
Aman Deep
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Thyroid Dysfunction ◽  
Radioactive Iodine ◽  
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Thyroid Function Tests ◽  
Function Tests ◽  
Tsh Secretion ◽  
Line Test ◽  
Radioactive Iodine Uptake

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.

scholarly journals The Characteristics of Children with Abnormalities Detected in Thyroid Function Tests, and Distribution of Diagnoses

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elif Çelik ◽  
Ayşe Anık
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Thyroid Disease ◽  
Correct Diagnosis ◽  
Thyroid Function Test ◽  
Hashimoto Thyroiditis ◽  
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Thyroid Function Tests ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Function Tests ◽  
Function Test

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.

Subclinical hypothyroidism

2011 ◽  
pp. 543-547
Author(s):  
Jayne A. Franklyn
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Subclinical Hypothyroidism ◽  
Expert Panel ◽  
Elevated Serum ◽  
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Free Thyroxine ◽  
Thyroid Function Tests ◽  
Free Triiodothyronine ◽  
Function Tests ◽  
Serum Tsh

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).

scholarly journals Transient cold nodule of the thyroid due to localized postpartum thyroiditis

1998 ◽  
pp. 562-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Luboshitzky ◽  
G Qupti ◽  
A Ishai ◽  
M Dharan
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Nodule ◽  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
Thyroid Function Tests ◽  
Thyroid Scintigraphy ◽  
Postpartum Thyroiditis ◽  
Normal Thyroid Function ◽  
Function Tests ◽  
Needle Aspiration Cytology ◽  
Cold Nodule

A 27-year-old woman with no previous personal or family history of thyroid disease was referred to us for the evaluation of thyroid nodule, five months postpartum. Thyroid scintigraphy demonstrated a left cold nodule. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the nodule showed a mixture of colloid, follicular cells and lymphocytes, suggesting lymphocytic thyroiditis. Thyroid function tests were normal and thyroid autoantibodies were negative. After two months the thyroid nodule was not palpated and thyroid scintigraphy returned to normal. Thyroid function tests remained normal twelve months after delivery. These findings suggest that postpartum thyroiditis may present as a localized transient form and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of painless solitary nodule that appears postpartum.

THYROID FUNCTION TESTS IN ADULTS WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME

1978 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Korsager ◽  
E. M. Chatham ◽  
H. P. Østergaard Kristensen
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Down's Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Down’S Syndrome ◽  
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Thyroid Function Tests ◽  
Thyroid Status ◽  
Biochemical Tests ◽  
Old Patients ◽  
Function Tests

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.

scholarly journals Enlarged Thyroid Gland with Normal Thyroid Function Tests

2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-182
Author(s):  
Carol F. Adair ◽  
John T. Preskitt ◽  
Kristin L. Joyner ◽  
Robin W. Dobson
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Gland ◽  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Thyroid Function Tests ◽  
Normal Thyroid ◽  
Normal Thyroid Function ◽  
Function Tests

Thyroid dysfunction in chronic schizophrenia in albania

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1515-1515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Themeli ◽  
I. Aliko ◽  
A. Hashorva
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Thyroid Dysfunction ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenia ◽  
Hashimoto Thyroiditis ◽  
Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 ◽  
Thyroid Function Tests ◽  
Thyroid Antibodies ◽  
Normal Thyroid ◽  
Function Tests

BackgroundThyroid dysfunction is relatively common in patients with schizophrenia.This study seeks to determine the prevalence and pattern of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid antibodies presence in a group of adult psychiatric inpatients with chronic schizophrenia.MethodsThyroid function tests and thyroid antibodies measurement were performed on 88 patients hospitalized in Psichiatric Clinic of UHC “Mother Teresa” from december 2006 to december 2007.55 of them (62,5%) were females and 33 of them (37,5%) males. A median age of 43 years (range16 to 70 years) and a median duration of hospitalization of 10 years (range 1 to 30 years) was assessed.ResultsTAb were found in 22 patients (25%), of which 18 females and 4 males. 16% of them resulted with positive anticorps for Hashimoto Thyroiditis; 9% for Graves‘disease.According to thyroid function tests70% had normal test, 8% had elevated TSH: 3% of them with low thyroid hormones and 5% with normal thyroid hormones. 20% of cases had low TSH: 5% of them with high level of thyroid hormones, 15% with normal thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism was more frequent in elderly patients ( > 60 years old), and in those treated with Risperidone. Most of cases (73%) with thyroid disorders resulted from endemic geographic areas. 37% of them mentioned familial history for thyroid pathology, and 23% for diabetes mellitus type 1.ConclusionThyroid abnormalities are common in patients with chronic schizophrenia.This fact call for caution in the use and interpretation of thyroid function tests in these patients.

scholarly journals Parameters affecting the period for being euthyroid in newly-diagnosed Graves’ disease treated with antithyroid agent

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 3165
Author(s):  
Iskender Ekinci ◽  
Hande Peynirci
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Antithyroid Drug ◽  
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Graves Disease ◽  
Thyroid Function Tests ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Function Tests ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Stimulating Hormone

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.

scholarly journals MON-501 Physician-Reported Misuse of Thyroid Ultrasound

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie W Chen ◽  
David Reyes-Gastelum ◽  
Archana Radhakrishnan ◽  
Ann S Hamilton ◽  
Kevin C Ward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Thyroid Function Tests ◽  
Thyroid Antibodies ◽  
Thyroid Ultrasound ◽  
Patient Request ◽  
The Past ◽  
Function Tests ◽  
General Surgeons

Abstract BACKGROUND: Over the past four decades, there has been a substantial increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer with studies suggesting that greater use of thyroid ultrasound contributes to the rise in incidence. However, little is known about physician reported practice patterns on ultrasound use. Methods: Patients diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer in 2014–15 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registries of Georgia and Los Angeles were surveyed and asked to identify the surgeon who performed their thyroid surgery, and the endocrinologist and other doctors most involved in their thyroid cancer treatment decision making. We surveyed all physicians identified by more than one patient, and a random sample of physicians identified by one surveyed patient (N=610; 65% response rate). Surveyed physicians were asked to identify the clinical scenarios in which they would schedule a thyroid or neck ultrasound. We generated descriptive statistics for all categorical variables and used multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with thyroid ultrasound misuse. Results: The cohort consisted of primary care physicians (PCPs; N=162), endocrinologists (N=176), otolaryngologists (N=130), and general surgeons (N=134). In addition to physicians reporting ultrasound use for accepted reasons such as palpable nodule on exam (98%), large goiter (92%), and nodule seen on other imaging test (88%), a substantial number of physicians endorsed ultrasound use for clinically unsupported reasons: patient request (33%); abnormal thyroid function tests (28%); and positive thyroid antibodies (22%). In multivariable analysis, compared to PCPs, endocrinologists, otolaryngologists, and general surgeons were significantly more likely to schedule an ultrasound in response to patient request (odds ratio (OR) 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27–5.11; OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.57–5.79; OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.17–3.97, respectively). Physicians in private practice were more likely to schedule an ultrasound for abnormal thyroid function tests (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.33–4.73) and positive thyroid antibodies (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.27–5.21) compared to those in academic medical centers. Physicians who managed ten patients or less, compared to more than 50 patients, with thyroid nodules in the past 12 months were less likely to schedule an ultrasound for positive thyroid antibodies (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19–0.95). Conclusion: Physicians report scheduling thyroid ultrasound for reasons not supported by clinical guidelines and in conflict with the Choosing Wisely recommendations. Understanding why physicians use thyroid ultrasound and factors that correlate with clinically unsupported reasons is essential to creating targeted educational interventions to improve physician adherence to guidelines, reduce unnecessary imaging, and curb the overdiagnosis of low-risk thyroid cancer.

scholarly journals A Case of Euthyroid Graves’ Ophthalmopathy in a Patient Sero-Negative for TSH Receptor Autoantibody

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asami Hotta ◽  
Tomohiro Tanaka ◽  
Haruka Kato ◽  
Shota Kakoi ◽  
Yuki Shimizu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Function ◽  
Pulse Therapy ◽  
Tsh Receptor ◽  
Thyroid Autoantibodies ◽  
Thyroid Function Tests ◽  
Normal Thyroid Function ◽  
Function Tests ◽  
Graves Ophthalmopathy ◽  
History Of ◽  
Serum Tsh

We report of a case of Graves’ ophthalmopathy presented solely with symptoms of the eyes with normal thyroid function tests and negative immunoreactive TSH receptor autoantibody. 40-year-old male was referred to our hospital due to 2-month history of ocular focusing deficit without any signs or symptoms of hyper- or hypothyroidism. Serum thyroid function tests and 99mTc uptake were both within the normal range. Anti-thyroid autoantibodies were all negative except for the cell-based assay for serum TSH receptor stimulating activity. Since orbital CT scan and MRI gave typical results compatible with Graves’ ophthalmopathy, we treated the patients with corticosteroid pulse therapy and orbital radiation therapy, leading to a partial improvement of the symptoms. This case gives insights into the potential pathophysiologic mechanism underlying Graves’ ophthalmopathy and casts light upon the difficulties of establishing the diagnosis in a euthyroid case with minimal positive results for anti-thyroid autoantibodies.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document