High-sensitivity C-reactive protein does not improve the differential diagnosis of HNF1A-MODY and familial young-onset type 2 diabetes: A grey zone analysis.

AIM: Low plasma levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) have been suggested to differentiate hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha-maturity-onset diabetes of the young (HNF1A-MODY) from type 2 diabetes (T2D). Yet, differential diagnosis of HNF1A-MODY and familial young-onset type 2 diabetes (F-YT2D) remains a difficult challenge. Thus, this study assessed the added value of hs-CRP to distinguish between the two conditions. METHODS: This prospective multicentre study included 143 HNF1A-MODY patients, 310 patients with a clinical history suggestive of HNF1A-MODY, but not confirmed genetically (F-YT2D), and 215 patients with T2D. The ability of models, including clinical characteristics and hs-CRP to predict HNF1A-MODY was analyzed, using the area of the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve, and a grey zone approach was used to evaluate these models in clinical practice. RESULTS: Median hs-CRP values were lower in HNF1A-MODY (0.25mg/L) than in F-YT2D (1.14mg/L) and T2D (1.70mg/L) patients. Clinical parameters were sufficient to differentiate HNF1A-MODY from classical T2D (AUROC: 0.99). AUROC analyses to distinguish HNF1A-MODY from F-YT2D were 0.82 for clinical features and 0.87 after including hs-CRP. For the grey zone analysis, the lower boundary was set to miss<1.5% of true positives in non-tested subjects, while the upper boundary was set to perform 50% of genetic tests in individuals with no HNF1A mutation. On comparing HNF1A-MODY with F-YT2D, 65% of patients were classified in between these categories - in the zone of diagnostic uncertainty - even after adding hs-CRP to clinical parameters. CONCLUSION: hs-CRP does not improve the differential diagnosis of HNF1A-MODY and F-YT2D.

[Neutrophilic dermatosis associated with propylthiouracil-induced p-ANCA (p-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies)]. / Dermatose neutrophilique associée à des anticorps anticytoplasme des polynucléaires neutrophiles (p-ANCA) induits par le propylthiouracil.

INTRODUCTION: We report on a patient who progressively developed polymorphic expressions of neutrophilic dermatosis (Sneddon-Wilkinson subcorneal pustulosis and pyoderma gangrenosum) associated with p-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA), while receiving propylthiouracil for hyperthyroidism. To our knowledge, such associations have never been published so far. CASE-REPORT: A 40 year-old woman was treated with propylthiouracil for Graves'disease. After 16 months of therapy, she noted flares of pustular lesions surrounded with erythematous halo mainly localized on the trunk. The lesions became chronic, and were not improved by potent topical corticosteroids. When first seen in our department in February 2003, the eruption was typical of Sneddon-Wilkinson subcorneal pustulosis. This diagnosis was confirmed by the histological examination of a skin biopsy of a pustule. One month later, she developed an inflammatory progressively ulcerative lesion on the right ankle, typical of pyoderma gangrenosum. The diagnosis was confirmed by the histological examination of a skin biopsy taken on the evolving border of the lesion and showed polynuclear neutrophilic infiltration without vasculitis. Direct immunofluorescence was negative. The presence of serum anti-myeloperoxydase p-ANCA was known for this patient since October 2002. No IgA monoclonal gammapathy was revealed on extensive biological check-up. Systemic oral corticosteroid therapy (1 mg/kg/day) dramatically improved skin lesions with complete healing within 8 weeks. DISCUSSION: Propylthiouracil is well known to induce the occurrence of ANCA in 20 to 64p. 100 of patients treated for Graves'disease. The mechanisms involved are badly recognized so far. Cutaneous vasculitis, glomerulonephritis and polychondritis may be clinically associated with those antibodies. Rare observations of neutrophilic dermatosis, mostly Sweet's syndrome, have been described in patients with propylthiouracil-induced ANCA. One case-report described a 44 year-old woman who developed pyoderma gangrenosum associated with propylthiouracil-induced p-ANCA. These manifestations usually appear within 2 years, as our patient. The data in the literature, allows us to report the polymorphic expressions of neutrophilic dermatosis in this patient with p-ANCA which could be related to propylthiouracil. Such association of Sneddon-Wilkinson subcorneal pustulosis and pyoderma gangrenosum with p-ANCA has never been described in this endocrinologic context so far. Furthermore we propose that neutrophilic dermatosis should be inscribed in the list of side effects induced by propylthiouracil therapy.

Expression of membrane and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in Graves' disease.

We have investigated the in vitro expression of membrane and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by human thyroid cells from 20 patients with Graves' disease and 5 normal subjects. Membrane ICAM-1 was not detected by flow cytometry analysis in non-cultured thyrocytes from either normal or Graves' disease tissues. It appeared on thyroid cells after a 24-h culture in monolayers and showed a regular dose-dependent increase. The same results were obtained with soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) in culture media from cells cultured in monolayers, vesicles or follicles. No change was obtained with different concentrations of fetal calf serum added to the media. Coculture of Graves' disease thyrocytes with autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) or intrathyroidal lymphocytes (ITL) enhanced the expression of both membrane and sICAM-1 whatever the culture model. When normal thyrocytes were cocultured with PBL, sICAM-1 increased but with ITL sICAM-1 remained unchanged. High concentrations of gamma interferon induced an increase of both membrane and sICAM-1 in the three culture models. However the increases were greater with vesicles and follicles. Only sICAM-1 levels were raised with 0.1, 1 and 10 microM retinoic acid. These results suggest that ICAM-1 appears in culture, possibly due to mechanical effects such as adherence to plates and cell-to-cell contacts. Moreover, its expression is modulated by several factors such as cytokines or retinoic acid. Further investigations are needed to establish whether ICAM-1 is really involved in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease.

Increased prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies and subclinical thyroid failure in relatives of patients with overt endocrine disease-associated diabetes but not type 1 diabetes alone.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of thyroperoxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (Tg) antibodies, using a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay method in a large cohort of 254 first-degree relatives of Type 1 diabetic patients with or without other autoimmune endocrinopathy, and to evaluate the predictive value of thyroid antibodies for impaired thyroid function in these groups. TPO and Tg antibodies were found at similar frequencies (12%) in the 254 relatives, and both antibodies were present in 23 cases (9%). Seven subjects displayed subclinical thyroid dysfunction without an abnormal free T4 level. Among first-degree relatives of probands with Type 1 diabetes alone, TPO or Tg antibodies were found in 8 subjects (6%), including 6 with both antibodies. The prevalence of TPO antibodies was significantly greater among relatives of TPO-positive than TPO-negative probands (p < 0.01). In relatives of diabetic patients with other endocrinopathy, frequencies of TPO (20%), Tg (19%) and a combination of both antibodies (15%) were significantly higher than in relatives of Type 1 diabetic patients without endocrinopathy (p < 0.001). TSH levels were abnormal in only one relative of the group without endocrinopathy but occurred in 6 relatives of the proband with overt endocrinopathy-associated diabetes (p < 0.02) in marked association with TPO antibodies (p < 10(-4). It is concluded that relatives of probands with overt endocrine autoimmune disease-associated diabetes, unlike those of probands with diabetes alone, showed increased prevalence of thyroid antibodies and thyroid dysfunction. These results argue for a different risk of thyroid autoimmunity and clinical disease in families of diabetic patients without or with overt endocrine disease. A screening of thyroid autoimmunity is highly recommended for the latter group.

Combined analysis of long-term anti-beta-cell humoral reactivity in type 1 diabetes with and without thyroid disease.

The prevalence and levels of islet-cell antibodies (ICA) decrease in the years following diabetes onset but may persist, particularly in patients with concomitant autoimmune disease. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the frequencies, associations and levels of the major anti-beta-cell antibodies in long-standing diabetic patients (median duration: 14 years; range 5-47 years) with and without autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) in order to consider the specific antipancreatic immunologic features associated with endocrine autoimmunity. Both ICA and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody (GAD-A) frequencies were increased in diabetic patients with ATD (38 vs 23%, p = 0.03 and 70 vs 21%, p < 10(-4) respectively). Although IA2-A frequency tended to be higher in diabetic patients with ATD, no significant difference was seen (37 vs 26%, p = 0.14). GAD median level was significantly higher in the diabetic group with ATD (15 vs 5 units, p < 10(-4)). IA2-A and ICA median levels were similar in both groups. Regardless of the combined analysis performed (ICA/GAD-A, ICA/IA2-A or GAD-A/IA2-A), the prevalence of combined antibody positivity was higher in diabetic patients with than without ATD. In both diabetic populations, ICA and GA-DA were significantly associated (p < 10(-4), and their levels were correlated (r = 0.42, p < 10(-4) and r = 0.584, p < 10(-4) respectively). No significant correlation was seen between IA2-A levels and either ICA or GAD-A titres. It is concluded that Type 1 diabetes mellitus with ATD is characterised by increased persistent humoral islet-related reactivity, particularly directed towards GAD.

Clinical validity of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and TSH receptor antibodies in sera from patients with Graves' disease.

We compared the concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and the activities of thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAb) and thyrotropin-receptor antibodies (TBIAb) as measured with a commercial kit (TRAK). Sera were obtained from patients with Graves' disease (GD) before, during and after therapy with carbimazole (1-methyl-2-thio-3-carbethoxyimidazole). In all the situations, TSAb method was more sensitive than TBIAb. These two parameters dropped during therapy and were not correlated at any stage of measurement. sICAM-1 levels increased in 56.4% of patients before treatment, remained elevated at the beginning of treatment and decreased after twelve months of therapy. TSAb levels were significantly different between patients in relapse (78%) and those in remission (18%) (Z = -2.250, P = 0.025), with a relapse rate depending on the TSAb positivity (chi 2 = 7.103, P = 0.0077). Positive sICAM-1 values were found in 3 of the 9 (33.3%) patients who relapsed after discontinuing the drug but were negative in all the patients remaining in remission with a significant difference (Z = -1.982, P = 0.0475). The relapse rate was also dependent on positive sICAM-1 values (chi 2 = 3.958, P = 0.0466). No correlation was found between sICAM-1 levels and anti-TSH receptor antibodies TSAb or TBIAb. We conclude that the TBIAb technique is too insensitive to explore GD. TSAb and sICAM-1 assays in patients with GD are good markers of immune process after treatment withdrawal. Because of its rapid implementation, the sICAM-1 assay may advantageously replace TSAb measurement for forming a prognosis of GD.

[Prevalence of hypertension in a black African diabetic population]. / Prévalence de l'hypertension artérielle dans une population de diabétiques africains.

BACKGROUND: It has been established that hypertension prevalence rate was higher in American Blacks than Whites or Mexicans. And hypertension is more frequent in diabetics. The prevalence of hypertension among diabetic African Blacks is not well documented. METHODS: A total of 550 diabetic patients attending to Central Hospital of Yaounde (Cameroon) were followed between 1990 and 1994. The 1993 WHO criteria were used to define hypertension (systolic blood pressure (SBP) > or = 140 or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > or = 90 mmHg. We also have considered as hypertensive patients being treated with an antihypertensive medication before inclusion. All quantitative data are given as means +/- SD. RESULTS: For the whole study population characteristics were: age (at inclusion): 54.2 +/- 12.8 yrs: sex distribution: 341 men for 209 women (sex ratio: 1.63:1); known duration of diabetes: 5.7 +/- 5.6 yrs; Body Mass Index (BMI): 24.4 +/- 4.8 kg/m2. They are dividing into 136 IDDM, 405 NIDDM and 9 other types. In normotensive patients, blood pressure levels were: SBP 117 +/- 11 and DBP 75 +/- 8 mmHg, while in hypertensive: SBP 156 +/- 23 and DBP 95 +/- 13 mmHg. The difference between normo and hypertensive diabetics was significant (p > or = 0.001). Characteristics of hypertensive group were: age: 57 +/- 11.2 yrs, sex repartition 229 men for 136 women (sex ratio: 1.68:1), BMI: 24.9 +/- 4.8 kg/m2, diabetes classification: 63 IDDM, 297 NIDDM and 5 other types. According to recent WHO criteria (140/90) 365 subjects/550 were found to have high blood pressure, giving an overall prevalence of hypertension of 66.4% in the study population. Using former WHO definition (160/95) the prevalence was 42.2%. There was no statistical difference for prevalence between male (67.2%) and female (65.1%). But the difference was strongly significant (p < 0.001) between IDDM (46.3%) and NIDDM (73.3%). DISCUSSION: Hypertension prevalence studies in Africa have shown varying results (2.5-30%), with higher rates in urban than rural population. In African studies hypertension prevalence rates in diabetes were reported in the range 13-44%. The result of the present study is very near the high limit of known data in Africa. CONCLUSION: Such a prevalence rate of 66.4% in this Cameroonian diabetic population appears to be high, particularly in patients with NIDDM. These considerations bring to light the question of sensitiveness of African Blacks to hypertension when exposed to high blood pressure risk factors such as inadequate food and diabetes.

[Oral manifestations of endocrine dysfunction]. / Signes buccaux de la pathologie endocrinienne.

Oral manifestations of endocrine dysfunction often may be observed initially by the dentist. Objective manifestations, such as ophtalmos in hyperthyroidism, signs of hypersecretion of GH in acromegaly, are easily recognized. Dentists should have some knowledge of many other diseases in this category that occasionally come in our attention. The present article will discuss the effects of over and under-secretion of each endocrine gland separately, showing its influence on the development and maintenance of the health of the teeth and supporting structures. Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrinological disease, with an incidence of 3%. Periodontitis risk is three time greater in diabetic patients than in general population and it may worsen the diabetes evolution. Periodontitis in diabetic patients needs an rapid diagnosis and treatment. We also presents the oral aspects of thyroid, parathyroid, suprarenalian, growth hormone and female hormones pathology. The incidence of these troubles is less important, but oral manifestations may reveal an endocrine disfunction.

[Inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone and diabetes insipidus after surgery for pituitary adenoma]. / Sécrétion inappropriée d'hormone anti-diurétique et diabète insipide dans les suites opératoires de l'adénomectomie hypophysaire.

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone) and diabetes insipidus after pituitary adenoma surgery in patients and report follow-up data collected in our department of endocrinology. This retrospective study included 78 patients seen in the last 5 years. Possible risk factors of SIADH and diabetes insipidus were studies: patient age and gender, type of secretion, tumor volume, surgical approach, presence of postoperative pituitary failure. The incidence of SIADH and diabetes insipidus were similar: 12.8%. We did not find any risk factor for SIADH associated with postoperative anterior pituitary failure. This study illustrates the importance of postoperative follow-up after pituitary adenoma surgery.

[Anti-TPO antibodies and screening of thyroid dysfunction in type 1 diabetic patients]. / Intérêt du dosage des anticorps anti-TPO pour le dépistage d'une dysthyroïdie chez des patients diabétiques de type 1.

The diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction is often late in type 1 diabetic population. So, the aims of this study were 1) to evaluate the prevalences of thyroperoxydase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (Tg) autoantibodies detected by highly sensitive radioimmunological method in a cohort of 258 adult type 1 diabetic patients without evidence of clinical thyroid disease; 2) to determine whether or not measurement of TPO and/or Tg antibodies can identify subjects at risk of clinical or infraclinical thyroid dysfunction by measuring TSH in the entire group. TPO antibodies were found in 45 of the 258 diabetic patients (17%). The prevalence of TPO antibodies was not influenced by the following factors: gender, duration of disease, age at screening and at diabetes diagnosis, positivity of familial history. Tg antibodies were found in 19 patients (7%), including 13 cases with TPO antibodies. All patients without TPO antibody (n=213), including Tg-positive patients displayed TSH values in normal range. Among the 45 TPO-positive patients, 11 patients displayed infraclinical thyroid dysfunction. At the end of the 5-year follow-up, only 2/45 patients became anti-TPO negative. Thirteen of the 45 patients developed subclinical or clinical thyroid diseases (4 Graves'disease and 9 thyroiditis with hypothyroidism). By contrast, none of 45 TPO negative patients, sex and age matched with the TPO-positive patients, developed during follow-up anti-TPO positivity and/or infraclinical thyroid dysfunction. In conclusion, the determination of TPO antibodies by a highly sensitive method allows identifying diabetic patients with thyroid autoimmunity and at risk of subsequent impaired thyroid function, whatever age at diagnosis and diabetes duration. By contrast, anti-Tg determination did not give further information about subsequent thyroid dysfunction. In TPO antibody positive patients repeated thyroid clinical examination and TSH determination could be recommended to detect infraclinical thyroid dysfunction.

Clinical and metabolic characteristics of patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA): absence of rapid beta-cell loss in patients with tight metabolic control.

AIM AND METHODS: The present study compared the clinical and metabolic characteristics of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) with type 2 diabetes, as well as the residual beta-cell function and progression to insulin treatment, over a 2-year follow-up period, of antibody (Ab)-positive and Ab-negative patients who achieved tight glycaemic control (HbA(1c) 7.0+/-0.8% and 6.5+/-0.9%, respectively, at the time of entry into the study). RESULTS: Glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA) and/or islet cell antibodies (ICA) were detected in 10% of patients presenting with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Around half of Ab-positive patients required insulin treatment during the follow-up. Ab-positive patients displayed lower stimulated C-peptide levels both at entry and during the follow-up compared with Ab-negative patients, although no significant decline in C-peptide levels was observed in either subgroup over two years. Nevertheless, Ab-positive patients progressed more frequently to insulin treatment, and stimulated C-peptide tended to decrease in LADA patients who subsequently required insulin, whereas it remained stable in those who were non-insulin-dependent. In those who progressed, the trend towards C-peptide decline persisted even after starting insulin treatment. CONCLUSION: LADA patients demonstrate lower residual beta-cell function than do type 2 diabetes patients. However, those who achieve tight metabolic control do not present with a rapid decline in beta-cell function. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal treatment strategy in such patients.

The clinical variability of maternally inherited diabetes and deafness is associated with the degree of heteroplasmy in blood leukocytes.

CONTEXT: Maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) is a rare form of diabetes with a matrilineal transmission, sensorineural hearing loss, and macular pattern dystrophy due to an A to G transition at position 3243 of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (m.3243A>G). The phenotypic heterogeneity of MIDD may be the consequence of different levels of mutated mtDNA among mitochondria in a given tissue. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was thus to ascertain the correlation between the severity of the phenotype in patients with MIDD and the level of heteroplasmy in the blood leukocytes. PARTICIPANTS: The GEDIAM prospective multicenter register was initiated in 1995. Eighty-nine Europid patients from this register, with MIDD and the mtDNA 3243A>G mutation, were included. Patients with MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) or with mitochondrial diabetes related to other mutations or to deletions of mtDNA were excluded. RESULTS: A significant negative correlation was found between levels of heteroplasmy and age of the patients at the time of sampling for molecular analysis, age at the diagnosis of diabetes, and body mass index. After adjustment for age at sampling for molecular study and gender, the correlation between heteroplasmy levels and age at the diagnosis of diabetes was no more significant. The two other correlations remained significant. A significant positive correlation between levels of heteroplasmy and HbA(1c) was also found and remained significant after adjustment for age at molecular sampling and gender. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the hypothesis that heteroplasmy levels are at least one of the determinants of the severity of the phenotype in MIDD.

Hypophysitis associated with a ruptured Rathke's cleft cyst in a woman, during pregnancy.

We report the case of a 29-yr-old woman who first presented an aseptic meningitis at the beginning of a pregnancy. She was admitted one month later with headaches and vomiting. Panhypopituitarism with diabetes insipidus was diagnosed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data suggested the existence of lymphocytic infundibulohypophysitis, with inflammation of the suprasellar area. No new symptoms were noticed until 6 months later when this patient pointed out troubles of the visual field, due to a compression of the optic chiasma. Three boluses of 1 g methylprednisolone were prescribed, with no effects. After delivery, the defects of the visual field increased. A neurosurgical intervention was decided. Diagnosis of Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC) was made. We concluded that this patient presented a rupture of a RCC, which occurred at the beginning of pregnancy, associated later with panhypopituitarism with diabetes insipidus, due to a probable hypophysitis. The end of the pregnancy was marked by consequences of an increased volume of the RCC. To our knowledge, this case is the first described during pregnancy.

Longitudinal study of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in sera of patients with Graves' disease.

Adhesion molecules, such as Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1), play an important role during the autoimmune process of Graves' disease (GD). So the objective of the study was to evaluate the time-course of the soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) in GD. Concentrations of sICAM-1, thyroid hormones and TSAb (thyroid-stimulating antibodies) were determined in sera from 30 healthy controls, 41 untreated GD patients and after 3, 6, 12, 18 months of carbimazole therapy (no.=30), at relapse (no.=11) or 2 years after the end of therapy when remission (no.=13). Mean sICAM-1 concentration was significantly higher in untreated GD patients than in controls (mean+/-SD: 371+/-108 ng/ml vs 243+/-47 ng/ml, p<0.0001) until 6 months of therapy (289+/-102 ng/ml; NS). The number of positive patients (sICAM-1 levels>mean of the controls+2 SD) declined from 56% (23/41) at the time of the diagnosis to 10% (3/29) at 18 months. At relapse, mean sICAM-1 level significantly increased compared to that at 18 months of therapy (288+/-65 vs 236+/-59 ng/ml, p=0.005). At remission mean sICAM-1 level was significantly lower than in relapse patients (240+/-48 ng/ml, p=0.04); no patient displayed sICAM-1 positive values. In conclusion, sICAM-1 concentrations were increased in sera of newly diagnosed GD patients, declined significantly during carbimazole therapy and could again be increased at relapse. sICAM-1 could reflect an ongoing immune process and help to affirm the presence of an autoimmunity notably in some cases of TSAb negative patients. However its precise interest in clinical practice remains to be determined in further studies.

[Modification of hemorheological parameters in microvascular complications of diabetes]. / Modification des paramètres hemorhéologiques au cours des complications microangiopathiques du diabète.

The aim of the present study was to assess the possible modifications in the parameters of red cell aggregation and blood and plasma viscosity in 92 diabetic patients compared to 82 non diabetic control subjects. Based on the presence of microalbuminuria (> 30 mg/24 h) and/or retinopathy each group of diabetic patients was divided into two subgroups. This study shows increased red cell aggregation and blood viscosity among diabetic patients with microangiopathy. There was a very good correlation between fibrinogen level and the different rheological measurements. The results of this study confirm the importance of the blood rheology abnormalities observable in diabetes. These disorders increase peripheral vascular resistances and ischemia and therefore worsen diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy.

Non-hyperfunctioning nodules from multinodular goiters: a minor role in pathogenesis for somatic activating mutations in the TSH-receptor and Gsalpha subunit genes.

Constitutive activation of the cAMP pathway stimulates thyrocyte proliferation. Gain-of-function mutations in Gsalpha protein have already been identified in thyroid nodules which have lost the ability to trap iodine. In contrast, most of the studies failed to detect somatic activating mutations in the thyrotropin receptor (TSH-R) in non-hyperfunctioning thyroid tumors. The aim of this study was to screen for mutations TSH-R exon 10, encoding the whole intracytoplasmic area involved in signal transduction, and Gsalpha exons 8 and 9, containing the two hot-spot codons 201 and 227, in a subset of non-hyperfunctioning nodules from multinodular goiter. Identified by matching ultrasonography and scintiscan, 22 eufunctioning (normal 99Tc uptake) and 15 nonfunctioning (decreased 99Tc uptake) nodules from 27 non-toxic multinodular goiters were isolated. After DNA extraction, TSH-R exon 10 was analyzed by direct sequencing of the PCR products and Gsalpha exons 8 and 9 by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis. No mutation of TSH-R or Gsalpha was detected in the 37 nodules analyzed. This absence of mutation, despite the use of two sensitive screening methods associated with the analysis of the TSH-R whole intracytoplasmic area and Gsalpha two hot-spot codons, suggests that TSH-R and Gsalpha play a minor role in the pathogenesis of non-toxic nodules from multinodular goiters.