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Context: Inflammation-related markers may predict cardiovascular diseases. Objective: In this study, it was aimed to assess pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) levels and its relationship with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Design: Prospective cross-sectional study. Methods: This study included 60 patients (aged 30-60 years) with subclinical hypothyroidism and 30 healthy volunteers as controls. The demographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements were performed in all patients and controls. In addition, sonographic carotid artery examination, thyroid functional tests, lipid profile, hsCRP, and PTX-3 levels of the participants were investigated. Results: The PTX-3, hsCRP levels and CIMT were higher in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism when compared to controls (p=0.008, p=0.001, p<0.001, respectively). The PTX-3 level was strongly correlated with hsCRP (r=0.865; p<0.001), but no such correlation was detected with CIMT (r=-0.255; p=0.50). In binominal logistic regression analysis, it was found that CIMT and serum uric acid levels were independent parameters associated with subclinical hypothyroidism. In ROC analysis, a cut-off value of >3.75 ng/mL for serum PTX-3 level predicted subclinical hypothyroidism with a sensitivity of 60% and specificity of 60.7% (AUC: 0.672, p=0.004). Conclusion: Showing inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, the PTX-3 may be a helpful marker in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
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CONTEXT: As the life expectancy prolongs, malignancy has become an important issue in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy with ongoing increase in incidence all over the world. OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study that investigates the thyroid disorders and the prevalence of thyroid nodule and cancer in RTRs. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 204 RTRs were evaluated for the thyroid diseases with ultrasonography, serum thyroid stimulating hormone, free T4, free T3 levels, anti-thyroglobulin antibody and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody levels; FNAB was carried if required. RESULTS: 191 patients (94.1%) had normal thyroid function. Subclinical hypothyroidism was diagnosed in 11 patients, subclinical hyperthyroidism in 1 patient and low T3 syndrome in 4 patients. The FNAB was performed in 17 (27.9%) from 61 patients with thyroid nodule. The cytological examination of biopsy materials revealed that 2 (11.8%) nodules were suspicious for malignancy, 13 (76.5%) were benign, and 2 (11.8%) with non diagnostic cytology. Thyroid cancer prevalence was 0.2% in Turkey but we detected that 0.98% of RTRs had thyroid cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Screening the RTRs for thyroid disorders is necessary, so that early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of thyroid disease and cancer may improve the quality of life.
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Acromegaly is caused by excessive growth hormone secretion, usually from a pituitary adenoma. Increased mortality rate is reverted to that of the normal population after decreasing GH and IGF-I levels to less than 2-2.5 microg/liter and normal sex- and age-matched controls, respectively, regardless of the treatment employed. The use of somatostatin analogues as primary or adjunctive therapy has been widely applied in the management of acromegaly. A few cases have been reported in the literature, complete shrinkage of a pituitary GH secreting macroadenoma after long-term somatostatin analogue administration. We report a patient in whom long term (60 months) octreotide-L.A.R administration resulted in complete disappearance of a growth hormone secreting pituitary macroadenoma.
