MON-472 A Case of Resistance to Thyroid Hormone with Concurrent Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Post-Surgical Hypothyroidism

Abstract

Introduction: Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a rare defect that results in impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormone. While most commonly caused by mutations in the thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRβ) gene, in 15% of patients with the RTH phenotype, no mutation is identified.1 This entity is known as non-thyroid hormone receptor RTH (nonTR-RTH). Patients with RTH have an increased risk of autoimmune thyroid disease with a reported odds ratio of 2.36.2 Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or other etiologies of hypothyroidism add a layer of complexity to RTH as such individuals may require high doses of levothyroxine to overcome hormone resistance.Clinical Case: A 36-year-old male was referred for abnormal thyroid function tests. He denied symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. Physical examination was notable for a goiter. Weight was 83 kg. Initial labs revealed TSH 6.8 mcIU/mL (0.3-4.7 mcIU/mL), free T4 2.0 ng/dL (0.8-1.7 ng/dL), free T3 491 pg/dL (222-383 pg/dL), and thyroid peroxidase antibody >600 IU/mL (≤20 IU/mL). Additional work-up demonstrated elevated free T4 by equilibrium dialysis 2.5ng/dL (0.9-2.2 ng/dL) and elevated TSH with HAMA treatment 5.96 mIU/L (0.40-4.50 mIU/L), thereby ruling out familial dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia and HAMA interference. Alpha-subunit of 0.30 ng/mL (<0.55 ng/mL) and normal pituitary MRI did not support a TSH-secreting adenoma. Quest Diagnostics RTH Gene Sequencing was negative for a mutation in the THRβ gene. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with nonTR-RTH. Thyroid ultrasound showed multiple thyroid nodules, including a 1.8 cm hypoechoic, complex nodule in the left inferior gland and a 1.7 cm isoechoic nodule in the right inferior gland. Fine needle aspiration of the left nodule was suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma and the right nodule showed lymphocytic thyroiditis. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy and pathology demonstrated a benign left nodule and an incidental 0.3 cm right papillary thyroid carcinoma. The patient started levothyroxine 150 mcg daily (1.8 mcg/kg) post-operatively with subsequent TSH of 18.1 mcIU/mL. His dose was increased to 200 mcg daily (2.4 mcg/kg) and TSH was still elevated at 11.7 mcIU/mL. His levothyroxine dose was subsequently increased to 250 mcg daily (3 mcg/kg) and TSH is outstanding.Conclusions: This case highlights the diagnostic challenge in nonTR-RTH. It also demonstrates the complex management of patients with RTH and concurrent hypothyroidism. Such patients need close monitoring and aggressive titration of levothyroxine to achieve desired hormone levels.1. Dumitrescu AM, Refetoff S. The syndromes of reduced sensitivity to thyroid hormone. Biochim Biophys Acta 2013;1830:3987-4003.2. Barkoff MS, Kocherginsky M, Anselmo J, Weiss RE, Refetoff S. Autoimmunity in patients with resistance to thyroid hormone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010;95:3189-93.