Renal function changes in patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism: a novel postulated mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Subclinical hyperthyroidism (SCH) is found to be associated with renal dysfunction. Hyperthyroidism is a well-known cause of secondary systolic hypertension. However, the effect of SCH on the kidney and its vasculature is still unknown. AIM: To assess the presence of renal function changes and renal vasodysfunction in SCH patients and their relation to hypertension. METHODS: The study included 321 patients with SCH and 80 healthy matched controls. Laboratory investigations included thyroid function tests, anti-TSH receptor antibody (TRAb), creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum osmolarity (S. Osmol), urine osmolarity (U. Osmol), Fractional Excretion of Sodium (FeNa), Fractional Excretion of Potassium (FeK), copeptin (CPP), and aldosterone/renin ratio (ARR). Ultrasound for the thyroid gland, echocardiography, total peripheral resistance (TPR), flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and Renal Arterial distensibility (RAD) was also done. RESULTS: Serum creatinine was significantly lower while eGFR was significantly higher in SCH patients compared to euthyroid subjects (mean 0.59 ± 0.11 mg/dl Vs mean 0.8 ± 0.1 mg/dl, p = 0.001 and mean 128.28 ± 14.69 ml/min/1.73m2 Vs mean 100.49 ± 14.9 ml/min/1.73m2, p = 0.013, respectively). The TPR and FMD showed a significant decrease in SCH group compared to controls (mean 975.85 ± 159.33 mmHg.min/L Vs mean 1120.24 ± 135.15 mmHg.min/L, p = 0.045 and mean 7.03 ± 4.02% Vs mean 13.48 ± 4.57%, p = 0.003, respectively). RAD was significantly higher in hypertensive SCH patients compared to normotensive SCH patients (mean 17.82 ± 2.46 mmHg Vs mean 11.98 ± 3.21 mmHg, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: SCH patients showed vascular resistance reduction. Alterations in thyroid hormones and blood pressure could be the driving mechanisms for the change in renal functions in patients with SCH.

Azathioprine as an adjuvant therapy in severe Graves' disease: a randomized controlled open-label clinical trial.

Introduction: Azathioprine (AZA) interferes with the activation of T and B lymphocytes, which are the main cells involved in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease (GD). The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of AZA as an adjuvant therapy to antithyroid drugs (ATDs) for moderate and severe GD. In addition, we conducted an incremental cost-effectiveness analysis of AZA to determine its cost-effectiveness. Methods: We conducted a randomized, open-label, and parallel-group clinical trial. We randomized untreated hyperthyroid patients with severe GD into three groups. All patients received 45-mg carbimazole (CM) as the starting dose and propranolol 40-120 mg daily. The first group (AZA1) received an additional 1 mg/kg/day AZA, the second group (AZA2) received an additional 2 mg/kg/day AZA, and the third group (control group) received only CM and propranolol. We measured thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and TSH-receptor antibody (TRAb) levels at baseline and every 3 months, while free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) levels were measured at the time of diagnosis, 1 month after initiation of therapy, and every 3 months thereafter until 2 years after remission. Thyroid volume (TV) was assessed by ultrasound at baseline and 1 year after remission. Results: A total of 270 patients were included in this trial. By the end of follow-up, there was higher remission rate in the AZA1 and AZA2 groups compared with controls (87.5% and 87.5% vs. 33.4%, p = 0.002). Throughout the course of follow-up, FT3, FT4, TSH, and TRAb were significantly different between the AZA groups and the control group, but there was no significant difference regarding TV. The decline in the concentrations of FT4, FT3, and TRAb was significantly faster in the AZA2 group than in the AZA1 group. The relapse rate during the 12-month follow-up was insignificantly higher in the control group than in either the AZA1 or AZA2 group (10, 4.4, and 4.4%, p = 0.05, respectively). The median relapse time was 18 months for the control group and 24 months for the AZA1 and AZA2 groups. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for the AZA group compared with the conventional group was 27,220.4 Egyptian pounds per remission reduction for patients using AZA as an adjuvant for ATDs. Conclusion: AZA could be a novel, affordable, cost-effective, and safe drug offering hope for patients with GD to achieve early and long-lasting medical remission. Trial registry: The trial is registered at the Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (Registration number: PACTR201912487382180).

COVID-19 treatment: A potential cause of acute pancreatitis.

Remdesivir can precipitate fatal acute necrotizing pancreatitis especially in patients who previously suffer from hypertriglyceridemia.

Cortisol/DHEA ratio in morbidly obese patients before and after bariatric surgery: Relation to metabolic parameters and cardiovascular performance.

INTRODUCTION: Bariatric surgery (BS) is the most effective therapy for morbid obesity. Cortisol and DHEA are steroid hormones with opposing effects, thus using Cortisol/DHEA ratio (C/D) rather than the use of either hormone alone has been found to predict health outcomes more reliably. It was interesting to study C/D as an indicator of favorable metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes after BS. OBJECTIVE: To assess C/D in morbidly obese patients before and after BS in relation to metabolic parameters and cardiovascular performance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty morbidly obese patients were followed prospectively for 1 year after BS. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FI), C/D, lipid profile, high-sensitive CRP (hs-CRP), and echocardiography were done before BS and at 3 months and 1 year post BS. RESULTS: A total of 40 morbidly obese patients undergone sleeve gastrectomy. Blood pressure, FBG, FI, hs-CRP, C/D were significantly decreased after BS (p < 0.001). At 1 year post BS; significant reduction in left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPW) (p < 0.001), left ventricular mass (LVM) (p = 0.003), relative wall thickness (RWT) (p < 0.001) with a significant improvement in early diastolic velocity (E) (p < 0.001), early diastolic velocity/late diastolic velocity (E/A) (p = 0.01). After BS; C/D significantly positively correlated with FBG (p = 0.019), hs-CRP (p = 0.008), interventricular septum thickness (IVS) (p = 0.028), LVPW (p = 0.028), relative wall thickness (RWT) (p = 0.022), early diastolic velocity /early diastolic velocity (E') measured by pulsed tissue Doppler imaging (E/E') (p = 0.001), and significantly negatively correlated with E' (p = 0.032). C/D was the single significant independent variable affecting E' and E/E' post BS. CONCLUSION: C/D can be used as a surrogate marker of the improved FBG and the resolution of inflammation post BS. C/D is an independent predictor of diastolic function improvement post BS.

Thyroid disease and covid-19 infection: Case series.

Early and frequent evaluation of thyroid profile in COVID-19 infected patients is crucial as it will influence thyroid disease sequelae and management in those patients; moreover, it will facilitate setting an appropriate management plan.

Improving Hashimoto's thyroiditis by eradicating Blastocystis hominis: Relation to IL-17.

BACKGROUND: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a common autoimmune disorder that causes significant morbidity. Interleukin (IL)-17 was identified as a major contributing factor in the pathogenesis of HT. Blastocystis hominis (BH) is a very common infection and has been shown to be associated with several diseases. Our aim was to determine serum IL-17 level in HT patients with and without BH infection and the effect of eradicating BH in patients with HT. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 20 HT patients not infected with BH (group I), 20 HT patients infected with BH (group II), and 20 healthy patients (group III). Serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), and IL-17 were performed by ELISA method and were repeated in group II after 6 weeks of eradication of BH. RESULTS: Patients with HT showed a significantly higher serum IL-17 compared with controls. IL-17 was significantly higher in HT patients infected with BH compared with HT patients not BH infected (mean 6.93 ± 2.83 pg/ml versus 3.25 ± 1.55 pg/ml, p = 0.003). After BH eradication TSH, anti-TPO, and IL-17 were significantly decreased (mean 14.76 ± 11.11 µIU/ml versus 9.39 ± 7.11 µIU/ml, p < 0.001; mean 308 ± 175.6 IU/ml versus 295.4 ± 167.1 IU/ml, p = 0.006; and mean 6.93 ± 2.83 pg/ml versus 6.45 ± 2.48 pg/ml, p < 0.001), respectively. Multivariate analysis after treating BH infection showed that IL-17 was significantly negatively correlated with FT3 (adjusted p = 0.002) and significantly positively correlated with anti-TPO (adjusted p = 0.045). CONCLUSION: Treatment of BH infection ameliorates HT through reduction in IL-17, anti-TPO, and TSH. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PACTR201909495111649.

A hidden cause of infertility in hypothyroid patients.

Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutations could be the cause of infertility in hypothyroid patients. Hence, it is worthy to screen for MTHFR gene mutations in infertile hypothyroid females and their partners if infertility persists after optimizing thyroid function.

Cross-Cultural Reliability of an Arabic Version of the Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-Item Scale in Arab Patients with Diabetes mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: Arab nations have the second highest diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence in the world. There is a growing interest in self-management programs that emphasize patient's central role in managing type 2 DM. AIM OF THE STUDY: To validate an Arabic version of the Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-Item Scale (SEM6S) among Arab type 2 DM patients and to explore factors associated with self-efficacy measured with the SEM6S. METHODS: Cross-sectional study on 302 Arab patients with T2DM of three different nationalities (Egyptian, Saudi, Kuwaiti).The SEM6S was translated using forward-backward method, and its reliability was determined by calculating Cronbach's alpha. A regression model was used to examine variables associated with self-efficacy in Arab patients with T2DM. RESULTS: Questionnaire was successfully translated without language or content-related problem. The mean age of participants was 47.71±14.7 years with equally represented sexes. The mean total score of the SEM6S was 5.99±1.86. The scale psychometric properties was reproducible (ICC=0.61-0.71) with good reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.79). Statistically significant increase in self-efficacy was observed in patients <30 years, uncomplicated DM, DM with hypertension, and in patients who had physical activity > 60min per day. Also, a bimodal increase in self-efficacy was detected in patients with DM<5 years and 10.1-15 years. After regression analysis, physical activity was significantly positively correlated with self-efficacy (ß=0.8, P=0.01), and duration of diabetes was significantly negatively correlated with self-efficacy (ß = -0.23, P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Arabic SEM6S is acceptable, reliable and repeatable metric for self-efficacy.