The level of anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies in chronic urticaria patients

Introduction Chronic urticaria is a skin disorder characterized by swollen pruritic plaques and papules last long at least for 6-weeks. The aim of this study is to determine the anti TPO level in patients diagnosed with chronic urticaria, resistant to conventional treatments in order to test the possibility of thyroid hormone replacement with the aim of accelerating healing process. Materials and methods In this case-control study, 63 patients with chronic urticarial and 63 controls without chronic urticarial were studied bye anti TPO measurement.Anti TPO level upper than 40 IU/ has been recognized as positive. Results The prevalence of chronic urticaria among the case group was 3.5 times higher in women rather than men. Mean age of patients who have been diagnosed with chronic urticaria was 40.52±15.12 years. Mean Time of disease period was about 21.40±3.75 months. In this study, there has been no statistically significant association between age, Sex, TSH level and anti TPO concentration in both groups. Conclusion Anti TPO level in patients with chronic urticaria was not significantly different from the control group. However, Anti-TPO levels were significantly higher in patients with longer duration of disease.

Late-Onset Isolated Corticotrope Deficiency in a Woman with Down Syndrome

Isolated corticotrope deficiency is a rare cause of secondary adrenocortical insufficiency. Its occurrence in patients with Down syndrome is exceptional. Herein, we report a case of an isolated corticotrope deficiency diagnosed at the age of 33 years in a woman with Down syndrome and discuss its possible mechanisms. A 33-year-old woman with Down syndrome was referred to our department for the investigation of low blood pressure. She complained of asthenia, dizziness, and palpitation with arterial hypotension for the past 4 years. The thyroid function was normal and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies were negative. The peak of cortisol level in response to the insulin-induced hypoglycemia test was 9.4 μg/dl. ACTH level was normal, indicating corticotrope deficiency. Other pituitary hormones were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a partially empty sella turcica. Genetic analysis showed no mutations and no copy number variants of the TBX19 and NFKB2 genes. The mechanism of isolated corticotrope deficiency is unclear, but it may be induced by autoimmune mechanism in similar to other disorders of patients with Down syndrome.

Calcifediol Concentration vs Circulating Thyrotropin and Free Thyroxine in Human Blood of Postmenopausal Women

A total of 55 patients were: G1 of 9 patients, G2 of 23 subjects, and G3 of 23 patients. Similar age and years since menopause was found between the groups. There was no statistical significant difference between the groups regarding these aspects: p-value G1-G2 of 0.67, p-value G1-G3 of 0.72, p-value G2-G3 of 0.47. Similar results were obtained when TSH, FT4 and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies were analysed between the groups. No TSH-25-OHD correlation reached the statistical significance, neither FT4-25-OHD, TPO-25-OD. P-values between G1 and G2 for TSH, FT4, TPO were 0.23, 0.38, respective 0.7, between G2 and G3 were 0.19, 0.1, 0.35, between G1 and G3 were 0.48, 0.84, respective 0.75. Bone profile analyze based on 25-OHD levels did not identify any statistical significance difference between the mentioned groups (including bone turnover markers).

TSH reference range in older adults: a Brazilian study

Objective: To establish serum TSH reference values for a population of Brazilian elderly, and to compare them to those found in the adult population. Subjects and methods: Healthy volunteers aged 70 to 85 years, without known thyroid disease or risk factors for thyroid dysfunction, who did not use any medication that could potentially interfere with TSH, were selected. Subjects with goiter, palpable thyroid nodules, anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies, or altered free T4 were excluded. The sample consisted of 360 older adults (180 per sex). Results: TSH values corresponding to the 2.5th and 97.5th percentile of the sample were 0.2 and 4.62 mIU/L, respectively. TSH > 2.5 mIU/L was seen in 25.26% of the volunteers, > 3 mIU/L in 15.26%, and > 4 mIU/L in 6.1% of them. TSH values were slightly higher than those previously reported for adults (18-60 years). Conclusion: This study suggests an upper limit for normal TSH of approximately 4.6 mIU/L for the Brazilian elderly population.