Cumali Gökçe

Posterior pituitary function in Sheehan's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE We studied posterior pituitary function in 27 patients with Sheehans syndrome and 14 controls. DESIGN All patients were investigated by water deprivation test and 26 of them by 5% hypertonic saline infusion test. None of the patients had symptoms of diabetes insipidus and all patients were on adequate glucocorticoid and thyroid hormone replacement therapy before testing. RESULTS According to dehydration test, 8 (29.6%) patients had partial diabetes insipidus (PDI group) and 19 (70.3%) had normal response (non-DI group). During the 5% hypertonic saline infusion test, the maximal plasma osmolality was higher in PDI (305 +/- 4.3) and non-DI (308 +/- 1.7) groups when compared with controls (298 +/- 1.7 mOsm/kg; P < 0.005), but the maximal urine osmolality was lower in PDI group (565 +/- 37) than in non-DI (708 +/- 45) and control (683 +/- 17 mOsm/kg) groups (P < 0.05). The osmotic threshold for thirst perception was higher in PDI (296 +/- 4.3) and non-DI (298 +/- 1.4) groups when compared with control group (287 +/- 1.5 mOsm/kg) (P < 0.005). Basal plasma osmolalities were also higher in PDI (294 +/- 1.0) and non-DI (297 +/- 1.1) groups than in controls (288 +/- 1.2 mOsm/kg; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrated that patients with Sheehans syndrome have an impairment of neurohypophyseal function. The thirst center may be affected by ischemic damage and the osmotic threshold for the onset of thirst in patients with Sheehans syndrome is increased.

Hydatic Cyst in the Thyroid Gland Diagnosed by Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy

A 33-year-old man was admitted with a swelling in the right lobe of the thyroid gland of 1 years duration. Laboratory investigations and thyroid function tests were normal. Thyroid scanning showed a cold nodule in the lower pole of the right thyroid lobe. Thyroid ultrasonography showed multiple cystic nodules in the thyroid gland. To make a differential diagnosis of the thyroid nodule, fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was performed and hydatic cyst of the thyroid gland was diagnosed. Subtotal thyroidectomy was carried out and histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis. During aspiration biopsy, the patient did not present a clinical picture of anaphylactic reaction. To our knowledge, this is the first case of thyroid hydatic cyst diagnosed by FNAB reported in the literature.

Can basal cortisol measurement be an alternative to the insulin tolerance test in the assessment of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis before and after pituitary surgery?

BACKGROUND The aims of this study were to evaluate the validity of preoperative basal serum cortisol levels measured in predicting preoperative adrenal insufficiency and also the validity of basal serum cortisol levels and early postoperative insulin tolerance test (ITT) in predicting postoperative adrenal insufficiency. METHODS The study was prospectively designed and included 64 patients who underwent pituitary surgery for conditions other than Cushings disease. An ITT was performed preoperatively, on the 6th postoperative day and at the 1st postoperative month. Basal serum cortisol levels were measured on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th postoperative days. RESULTS Patients with a preoperative basal cortisol level of <165 nmol/l (6 microg/dl) showed insufficient cortisol response and those with levels higher than 500 nmol/l (18 microg/dl) had sufficient cortisol response to the preoperative ITT. The positive predictive value of the ITT performed on the 6th postoperative day was 69.7%, and the negative predictive value in predicting adrenal insufficiency at the 1st postoperative month was 58%. Patients were considered to have an insufficient cortisol response to ITT at the 1st postoperative month if their basal cortisol levels were <193 nmol/l (7 microg/dl) or 220 nmol/l (8 microg/dl) or 193 nmol/l (7 microg/dl) or 165 nmol/l (6 microg/dl) or 83 nmol/l (3 microg/dl) on the 2nd-6th postoperative days respectively. CONCLUSION Serum basal cortisol levels may be used as the first-line test in the assessment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis both preoperatively and postoperatively. Dynamic testing should be limited to the patients with indeterminate basal cortisol levels.

Thyroid Hemiagenesis, Ectopic Submandibular Thyroid Tissue, and Apparent Persistent Subclinical Thyrotoxicosis

BACKGROUND Ectopic thyroid tissue (ETT) is a rare embryological abnormality characterized by the occurrence of thyroid tissue in a site other than its usual location. Thyroid hemiagenesis (HA) is also a very rare abnormality in which one thyroid lobe does not develop properly during embryology. We report a patient with left HA, submandibular ETT, and persistent mildly suppressed serum thyrotropin (TSH). PATIENT A 38-year-old female patient was admitted with complaints of sweating and palpitations. She had no symptoms of neck compression. Thyroid ultrasonography revealed heterogeneity and hypoechogenicity of the right lobe and absence of the left lobe, the latter being confirmed by computed tomography. There was no ETT in the neck. A thyroid Tc-99m pertechnetate scan demonstrated two distinct areas of radiotracer uptake, one in the right lobe of the thyroid gland and one in the right submandibular region and lobe, but no uptake in the left thyroid bed. The serum free triiodothyronine was 2.89 pg/mL (2.5-3.9 pg/mL), and the serum free thyroxine was 0.86 ng/dL (0.61-1.12 ng/mL). The serum TSH was 0.11 mIU/L (0.34-5.60 mIU/L). CONCLUSIONS This may be the first reported patient with HA and submandibular ETT. The patient probably also had thyroiditis with mild intermittent thyrotoxicosis based on her suppressed TSH and ultrasonography imaging of the right thyroid lobe.

Effect of radioactive iodine therapy on lacrimal gland functions in patients with hyperthyroidism.

Background Radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy is preferred in the treatment of hyperthyroidism because of its effectiveness, noninvasiveness, and low costs. 131I has been detected in extrathyroidal tissues, such as in gastric mucosa, salivary glands, and lacrimal glands. To the best of our knowledge, there is no publication concerning the effects of RAI therapy for hyperthyroidism on tear production. In the present study, we evaluated whether or not the lacrimal glands are affected after RAI therapy when compared with pretreatment period. Methods The Schirmer and tear break-up time (TBUT) tests were used to assess 32 eyes of 16 patients with conditions that were diagnosed as hyperthyroidism before and at 3 and 6 months after RAI treatment. In addition, pretreatment values of patients were compared with that of controls. It was evaluated whether or not a correlation exists between the results and the dose or iodine uptake values. Results There was no significant difference between pretreatment values of Schirmer and TBUT tests obtained in the patient group and those of the control group (P > 0.05). In the patient group, there was a significant difference between the posttreatment and pretreatment values (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between uptake values obtained at 24 hours and the values obtained by TBUT and Schirmer tests on both eyes at 3 and 6 months. At 6 months, the uptake value at 24 hours was 28.83 ± 60 for both eyes in patients with TBUT test values less than 10, whereas it was 39.25 ± 7.88 for the right eye and 39.00 ± 6.85 for the left eyes in patients with TBUT test values greater than 10. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions In our study, we concluded that the decrease in mucin and aqueous production occurs due to affected lacrimal glands by RAI therapy; however, this effect is not dose dependent.

Calcium Homeostasis During Attack and Remission in Patients With Idiopathic Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

Objective: To evaluate changes in calcium metabolism in patients with idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) on initial presentation and at the follow-up visit. Subjects and Methods: The study comprised a total of 31 patients aged greater than 18 years who presented at the otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic of our hospital, newly diagnosed as idiopathic BPPV based on the history compatible with BPPV and positive provocative maneuver (either Dix-Hallpike or Roll test). The first blood sample was obtained on the day of initial presentation when the patient was found to have active unilateral BPPV. After 6 months, a blood sample was again drawn in accordance with the procedure. Blood samples were analyzed for data on 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)-D), total calcium, parathormone and ionized calcium on initial presentation, and at the follow-up visit. Results: The patients comprised 20 (64.5%) women and 11 (35.5%) men with a mean age of 49.78 years (range, 23–75 years). During an attack a higher prevalence of decreased serum Vitamin D is less than 20 ng/ml, was determined (93.5% versus 38.7%). There were statistical differences between the Vitamin D values, parathormone, and corrected by pH ionized calcium in both periods (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A statistically significant association was determined between Vitamin D and calcium metabolism in patients with idiopathic BPPV. It can be considered that Vitamin D deficiency and decreased ionized Ca level may be a risk for BPPV, not only in patients with osteoporosis but also in all patients. Very low levels of 25(OH)-D seem to be associated with recurrence of BPPV. The recurrences might possibly be prevented with supplementary Vitamin D especially in those with recurrent idiopathic BPPV but further studies would be necessary to determine this.

Leg Ulcers in Severity of Sickle Cell Diseases

Objective : Background: We tried to understand whether or not there are some positive correlations between leg ulcers and severity of sickle cell diseases (SCDs). Methods: All patients with SCDs were taken into the study. Results: The study included 346 patients with the SCDs (175 males). There were 50 cases (14.4%) with leg ulcers. Interestingly, the male ratio was significantly higher in patients with leg ulcers (74.0% versus 46.6%, p<0.001). Additionally, mean ages of the patients with leg ulcers were significantly higher than the patients without (35.0 versus 28.5 years, p<0.000). Prevalence of associated thalassemia minor was similar in both groups (64.0% versus 66.5%, respectively, p>0.05). On the other hand, smoking was significantly higher in patients with leg ulcers (28.0% versus 11.8%, p<0.05). Although the mean white blood cell and platelet counts of the peripheric blood were similar in both groups (p>0.05 for both), the mean hematocrit value was significantly lower in patients with leg ulcers (21.7% versus 24.0%, p= 0.002). On the other hand, although the painful crises per year, priapism, pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, and avascular necrosis of bones were all higher in patients with leg ulcers, the differences were only significant for digital clubbing, chronic renal disease, and stroke (p<0.05 for all). Conclusion: SCDs are chronic destructive processes on capillaries initiating at birth, and terminate with early organ failures in life. Probably leg ulcers are found among the terminal consequences of the inflammatory processes that may indicate shortened survival.

MYASTHENİA GRAVİSLİ HİPERTİROİDİ HASTASINDA RADYOAKTİF İYOT TEDAVİSİNİN KLİNİK SONUÇLARI

Myasthenia Gravis is an autoimmune disease characterized with muscle weakness and fatigue. Hyperthyroidism can be present with Myasthenia Gravis with a rate of 2-17.5 %. It is known that hyperthyroidism affects the clinical course of myasthenia gravis. A 27 years old woman with myasthenia gravis and recently occurred hyperthyroidism is presented in this study. Radioactive iodine therapy was applied to the patient and after 3 months of medication the patient become euthyroid and clinical findings of myasthenia were regressed.