Effects of Treatment Adherence on Quality of Life in Hypoparathyroid Patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the current situation of hypoparathyroid patients and to investigate the relationship between treatment adherence and quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multicentre study. METHODS: Adult patients presenting with the diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism to 20 different endocrinology clinics were included. They were receiving conventional therapies for hypoparathyroidism, using calcium, active vitamin D, and magnesium. We collected data on demographic features, disease- and treatment-related information, and results of routine laboratory tests, treatment adherence, and presence of complications. Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Short Form-36 quality of life assessments were administered. RESULTS: Among the 300 patients studied, 60.7% were adherent to their treatment, and 34.1% had complications. Anxiety and depression scores were significantly higher in non-adherent versus treatment-adherent patients (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). Most of the domains of quality-of-life scores were also significantly lower in non-adherent patients. Both anxiety and depression scores showed significant, negative correlations with serum calcium and magnesium concentrations (r=-0.336, p<0.001 and r=-0.258, p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 40% of the patients were non-adherent to conventional treatment for hypoparathyroidism, and such patients had higher anxiety and depression scores and poorer quality of life scores. Conventional treatment might not be sufficient to meet the needs of patients with hypoparathyroidism. In addition to seeking new therapeutic options, factors influencing quality of life should also be investigated and strategies to improve treatment adherence should be developed.

Comparison of Early Total Thyroidectomy with Antithyroid Treatment in Patients with Moderate-Severe Graves' Orbitopathy: A Randomized Prospective Trial.

BACKGROUND: The optimal therapeutic choice for Graves' hyperthyroidism in the presence of moderate-severe Graves' orbitopathy (GO) remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare GO course in patients with moderate-severe GO treated with early total thyroidectomy (TTx) versus antithyroid drug (ATD) regimens, in a prospective, randomized manner. METHODS: Forty-two patients with moderate-severe GO were enrolled. A total of 4.5 g of pulse corticosteroids were given intravenously to all patients before randomization. Patients in the first group were given TTx, whereas patients in the second group were treated with ATDs. TSH was kept between 0.4 and 1 mIU/l. The clinical course of GO was evaluated with proptosis, lid aperture, clinical activity score (CAS), and diplopia. RESULTS: Eighteen and 24 patients were randomized to the TTx and ATD groups, respectively. Thyroid autoantibodies decreased significantly, and there were significant improvements in proptosis, lid aperture, and CAS in the TTx group. While in the ATD group the decrement in thyroid autoantibodies was not significant, there were significant improvements in proptosis and CAS. When the TTx group was compared with the ATD group, anti-TPO, anti-Tg, and TSH-receptor antibodies were significantly decreased in the TTx group (p < 0.01), but there was no significant difference with respect to proptosis, lid aperture, CAS, and diplopia between the two groups during a median (min.-max.) follow-up period of 60 months (36-72). CONCLUSION: Although no definitive conclusions could be drawn from the study, mainly due to limited power, early TTx and the ATD treatment regimens, followed by intravenous pulse corticosteroid therapy, seemed to be equally effective on the course of GO in this relatively small group of patients with moderate-severe GO during a median (min.-max.) follow-up period of 60 months (36-72).

Serum fibroblast growth factor 21 levels in polycystic ovary syndrome.

AIM: This study was designed to measure serum fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy subjects. METHODS: A total of 37 women were evaluated. Serum levels FGF21, glucose, lipid profile, hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, oestradiol, testosterone, thyroid stimulating hormone, prolactin and insulin) were determined in 24 PCOS (15 subjects of PCOS BMI < 25 kg/m2, 9 subjects of PCOS BMI ≥ kg/m2) and 13 control group (BMI < 25 kg/m2). RESULTS: Serum FGF21 levels were higher in the PCOS group [99.5 (173.7) pg/ml] than in the control group [52.0 (88.0) pg/ml]. LH and T are significantly higher in PCOS cases (respectively; p < 0.05, p < 0.01). A positive correlation was found between FGF21 and luteinising hormone and testosterone (respectively; r = 0.43 p = 0.007, r = 0.38, p = 0.02). Multivariate discriminant analysis showed that BMI, triglyceride, HOMA-IR, fasting glucose with rise of FGF21 were found significant in PCOS. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that FGF21 in cases with PCOS exhibit an increase along with the increase of BMI and also has a positive correlation with LH and T. Further studies are required to clarify the aetiology and effects of FGF21 in women with PCOS.