[The development of Graves' disease after long-term hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's disease].

The main autoimmune thyroid diseases are Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD). Despite the significant differences in a pathogenesis and a clinical picture between HT and GD, the literature describes the cases of the conversion of one autoimmune disease to another, which, according to one version, is associated with a change in the balance between the levels of a stimulating and blocking antibodies to the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor. At the same time, there are more frequent observations of the transition of GD to HT, and much less often describe, on the contrary, the development of GD against the background of HT. The article presents a clinical case of the conversion of HT to GD. A detailed algorithm of the conservative management according to the «block-replace¼ scheme is described, indicating the results of laboratory and instrumental examination. At the time of describing the clinical case, the result of the treatment can be considered successful. The predictors such as a low level of the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor and thyroid volume before discontinuation of the thyrostatic therapy suggest a low risk of the recrudescence of GD.According to the authors, the phenomenon of the conversion of one autoimmune thyroid disease to another, in addition to the scientific interest, is important for the practitioners, since a timely change in the diagnostic paradigm can significantly change the treatment strategy and the favorably affect the prognosis of disease, preventing the development of complications.

[Expression of osteoprotegerin and soluble ligand of receptor of kappa-B transcription factor activator in the calcification of aortic valve]. / Ékspressiia osteoprotegerina i rastvorimogo liganda retseptora aktivatora faktora transkriptsii kappa-B pri kal'tsifikatsii aortal'nogo klapana.

The mechanism of valve calcification that is the main cause of aortic stenosis formation and progression is not yet clear. In recent years, the role of the OPG/RANKL/RANK system is considered as one of possible variants of pathogenesis of valve calcification. In presented work the differences in OPG and sRANKL levels involved in the calcification processes in tissues of patients with severe aortic stenosis have been examined. The study was performed using three groups of patients: group 1 - patients with aortic stenosis, group 2 - patients with aortic aneurysm, and group 3 - patients with aortic stenosis and aortic dilatation. In patients with aortic stenosis, the level of RANKL was significantly higher, and the level of RANKL was higher in valve than in tissue. The negative correlation between aortic dilatation and RANKL level indicated the lack of RANKL influence on pathogenesis of aortic dilatation. The obtained data confirm the increased expression of RANKL in patients with aortic valve calcification. The results of this study confirm importance of the OPG/RANKL/RANK system in calcification in patients with aortic stenosis. Athough patients of all groups had comparable values of OPG (including patients with aortic dilatation), the RANKL level increased only in patients with aortic stenosis. This suggest involvement of some additional mechanisms influencing the increase of RANKL expression.