Presence Of Autoimmune Thyroiditis Research Articles

Association between Thyroid Cancer Treatment Outcomes and the Presence of Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Association between Thyroid Cancer Treatment Outcomes and the Presence of Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Clinical and histological features of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and autoimmune thyroiditis: a national multicentre cross-sectional study.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is frequently associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (AT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of AT in a national cohort of pSS and to describe the clinical and histological phenotype of patients with pSS and associated AT. In this multicentre cross-sectional study, data from 2546 pSS were collected and the presence of AT was reported. In a subgroup, the histology of minor salivary glands was evaluated. Differences between pSS with and without AT were evaluated. A concomitant pSS and AT was detected in 19.6% of cases. Patients with pSS and AT displayed a lower prevalence of lymphoma, male sex and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) use and a higher prevalence of fibromyalgia, coeliac disease and hypergammaglobulinaemia. Multivariable analysis confirmed a higher prevalence of fibromyalgia and coeliac disease and lower use of DMARDs. In a subgroup of patients (n=232), a significantly higher focus score and number of foci was detected in pSS without AT (n=169) as compared to pSS with AT (n=54). This is the largest study evaluating the coexistence of pSS and AT. We confirm a high association between pSS and AT and describe the presence of a different phenotype characterized by a higher rate of celiac disease and fibromyalgia. Although not significant, the lower prevalence of both lymphoma and intake of DMARDs, along with a significantly lower focus score and number of foci, possibly suggest a more favourable outcome in concomitant pSS and AT which further deserve future investigations.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Primary Adrenal Insufficiency

(1) Background: Patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) suffer from a reduced quality of life. However, clinical factors associated with this impairment remain unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to evaluate the associations with clinical and hormonal parameters in a group of patients with PAI. (2) Methods: The study included 32 patients with autoimmune PAI, who answered the quality of life in Addison’s disease questionnaire (AddiQoL). Clinical data and hormonal measurements were collected from the patients. (3) Results: The total AddiQoL score of males was significantly higher than that of females (p = 0.011). Furthermore, males reached significantly higher scores in each of the four subscales (fatigue—p = 0.013, emotional sphere—p = 0.048, adrenal insufficiency symptoms—p = 0.039, and miscellaneous questions—p = 0.034). There was a negative correlation between HRQoL and gonadotropin levels (FSH and fatigue r = (−)0.38, p = 0.032; FSH and emotional sphere r = (−)0.416, p = 0.018). This study found no significant associations between AddiQoL scores and the presence of autoimmune comorbidities; only fatigue scores were worse in the presence of autoimmune thyroiditis (p = 0.034). The doses of hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone in the replacement therapy were not associated with AddiQoL scores. AddiQoL scores correlated negatively with the age of diagnosis (p = 0.015). (4) Conclusions: Female sex, higher gonadotropins level, and older age at diagnosis were associated with impaired HRQoL in the studied group of patients with PAI.

Retrospective comparison of individual risk factors hemithyroidectomy and thyroidectomy in patients with papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland in combination with autoimmune thyroiditis

Introduction. Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common subtype of thyroid cancer as it comprises 95 % of cases. Frequently, this pathology develops in the presence of autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) which is the main cause of hypothyroidism in various rich in iodine regions. Papillary thyroid carcinoma is characterized by good prognosis, however some patients experience recurrence which depends on the volume of surgical intervention.Aim. To compare clinical outcomes and complications after hemithyroidectomy (HE) and thyroidectomy (TE) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma secondary to autoimmune thyroiditis.Materials and methods. The retrospective study included 2031 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Considering individual risk factors, 67 patients were excluded from the HE group, and 588 patients were excluded from the TE group. Each group included 688 patients for whom data were matched. Such individual factors as age, sex, primary tumor size, extrathyroidal invasion, multifocal tumor and cervical lymph node metastasis were taken into account.Results. During 10‑year follow-up, recurrence was diagnosed in 26 (3.8 %) patients of the HE group and 11 (1.6 %) patients of the TE group. Relative risk of recurrence was significantly lower after TE than after HE (risk ratio (RR) 0.41; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.21–0.81; р = 0.01). In the HE group, for the majority of patients recurrence was observed in the contralateral lobe of the thyroid (84.6 %). In the TE group, there were no recurrences in all patients. There were no significant differences between the groups after exclusion of recurrence in the contralateral thyroid lobe (RR 2.75; 95 % CI 0.08–8.79; р = 0.08). In the TE group, the number of patients with transient and permanent hypothyroidism in the TE group was significantly higher than in the HE group (р <0.001).Conclusion. Hemithyroidectomy is appropriate for the majority of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma in the absence of extrathyroidal invasion in the neighboring tissues per preoperative examination. For patients after HE, preoperative and postoperative diagnostic examinations are important as most recurrences develop in the contralateral thyroid lobe.

Prognostication of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma based on preoperative ultrasound.

Diagnosis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, defined as papillary thyroid carcinoma measuring 1cm or less in greatest diameter, has increased with improvements in ultrasound technology and widespread familiarity and utilization. Given the indolent course of papillary thyroid carcinoma, active surveillance is considered an acceptable alternative to surgical resection for select patients. Candidacy for active surveillance is determined by a number of patient and tumor characteristics. Specifically, the location of the tumor within the thyroid gland plays one of the key roles in decision making. Here we evaluate characteristics of the primary tumor and distance to the thyroid capsule in association with locoregional metastases to help guide risk assessment. Retrospective chart review of all thyroid surgeries performed by two surgeons at one medical center from 2014-2021 to evaluate characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma on preoperative ultrasound that are associated with locoregional metastatic disease. Our data show a sensitivity of 65% and specificity of 95% for identifying regional metastases in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma using preoperative ultrasound. We found no correlation between regional metastasis and size of tumor, distance to thyroid capsule or trachea, tumor contour, or presence of autoimmune thyroiditis. Nodules in the superior or midpole were associated with central or lateral neck metastases, whereas nodules in the isthmus or inferior pole were only associated with central neck metastases. Active surveillance may be a reasonable option for even those papillary thyroid microcarcinomas adjacent to the thyroid capsule.

Individual risk factors for recurrence after hemithyroidectomy and thyroidectomy in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma in the presence of autoimmune thyroiditis

Individual risk factors for recurrence after hemithyroidectomy and thyroidectomy in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma in the presence of autoimmune thyroiditis

Autoimmune Thyroiditis and Risk of Malignancy in Children with Thyroid Nodules.

Background: It is uncertain whether the presence of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) increases the risk of thyroid cancer in children with thyroid nodules. This study evaluated the association between AIT and thyroid cancer in pediatric patients with thyroid nodules. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed of pediatric patients (<19 years old) with a thyroid nodule (≥1 cm) who underwent fine-needle aspiration in an academic pediatric thyroid center. AIT was defined by the presence of thyroid autoantibodies or diffusely heterogeneous sonographic echotexture. The primary outcome was diagnosis of thyroid cancer. The association of AIT with thyroid cancer was evaluated with univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Associations of AIT with subject and nodule characteristics were also assessed. Results: Four hundred fifty-eight thyroid nodules in 385 patients (81% female) were evaluated at a median age of 15.5 years (interquartile range 13.5-17.0). Thyroid cancer was present in 108 nodules (24%). AIT was present in 95 subjects (25%) and was independently associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer (multivariable odds ratio [OR] 2.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32-3.62). Thyroid cancer was also independently associated with younger age, nodule size, and solitary nodules, but was not associated with serum thyrotropin concentration. AIT was not associated with the likelihood of subjects undergoing thyroid surgery (p = 0.17). AIT was less commonly associated with follicular thyroid carcinoma than with papillary thyroid carcinoma (OR 0.22, CI 0.05-1.06). Among papillary thyroid carcinomas, AIT was strongly associated with the diffuse sclerosing variant (OR 4.74, CI 1.33-16.9). AIT was not associated with the extent of local, regional, or distant disease at thyroid cancer diagnosis. Conclusions: AIT is independently associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer in children with thyroid nodules. These findings suggest that the evaluation of thyroid autoantibodies and thyroid echotexture may inform thyroid cancer risk assessment and surgical decision-making in children with thyroid nodules.

Benign and malignant thyroid nodules with autoimmune thyroiditis.

The prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of coexistence of PTC with AT versus that of the coexistence of benign nodules with AT. This was a cross-sectional retrospective study including patients operated on for thyroid nodules from January 2011, to April 2021. The frequency of papillary carcinomas cooccurring with AT was compared to that of benign nodules cooccurring with AT, which was assessed based on cytopathological diagnosis after thyroidectomy. The study included 668 cases of benign nodules and 420 cases with PTC. No statistically significant difference was observed between cases of benign and PTC nodules regarding the presence of AT (25% vs. 28%, respectively, p = 0.177). The size of the PTC compared to that of the benign predominant nodules was significantly smaller both in the absence (0.96 ± 1.09 cm vs. 2.19 ± 1.06 cm, p < 0.05) and in the presence (0.77 ± 0.76 cm vs. 1.67 ± 1.08 cm, p < 0.01) of AT. In the binary logistic regression analysis of the PTC, the only variable associated with AT was multifocality (odds ratio: 1.750, 95% confidence intervals: 1.131-2.706, p = 0.013). The incidences of lymph node involvement and advanced stage PTC were very low both in the presence and absence of AT. The nodules present with PTC were not more likely to coexist with AT than benign nodules were. The small incidence of advanced PTC indicates a significant improvement in early-stage diagnosis.

Значення латентної внутрішньоклітинної інфекції у формуванні автоімунного тиреоїдиту в жінок із синдромом полікістозних яєчників

Актуальність. Встановлюються механізми, що пов’язують латентну внутрішньоклітинну інфекцію з автоімунними процесами, для удосконалення профілактики автоімунних захворювань. Мета: визначення частоти латентної хламідійної та герпесвірусної інфекції в жінок із синдромом полікістозних яєчників (СПКЯ) та її зв’язку з наявністю автоімунного тиреоїдиту (АІТ), порушеннями тиреоїдної функції та рівнями статевих гормонів. Матеріали та методи. У 55 жінок віком 18–24 роки із СПКЯ досліджено рівні загального тестостерону, прогестерону, естрадіолу, тиреотропного гормону, тироксину вільного, антитіл до тиреоїдної пероксидази, хламідій та вірусу простого герпесу 1-го та 2-го типів, проведено сонографію щитоподібної залози. Контрольну групу становили 20 здорових жінок того ж віку. Результати. У 21 жінки із СПКЯ спостерігався АІТ у стані еутиреозу та при підвищенні рівнів антитіл до тиреоїдної пероксидази; у 14 жінок на тлі АІТ розвинувся субклінічний гіпотиреоз; в інших 20 хворих на СПКЯ тиреоїдної патології не виявлено. Рівні тестостерону були вірогідно вищими, а естрадіолута прогестерону — вірогідно нижчими, ніж у контрольній групі. Підвищення рівнів антитіл до хламідій (&gt; 1,1 ОД) встановлено в 9,5 % у групі з АІТ з еутиреозом, у 7,1 % — за наявності субклінічного гіпотиреозу на тлі АІТ та в 5,0 % — за відсутності АІТ. Вірогідної різниці між цими підгрупами не встановлено. Антитіла до вірусу простого герпесу були підвищені в 57,1; 64,3, 30,0 % хворих із СПКЯ відповідно й лише у 20 % жінок із групи контролю. Висновки. Наявність латентної герпесвірусної інфекції у молодих жінок із СПКЯ може бути чинником ризику розвитку АІТ. У жінок у постменопаузальному періоді дисбаланс естрогенів і прогестерону також може створити умови для формування АІТ.

Особенности клинических проявлений и лечения синдрома Шмидта

Актуальность. Наиболее часто встречается аутоиммунный полигландулярный синдром 2-го типа. Представляет интерес развитие и течение синдрома Шмидта, что требует всесторонней диагностики ввиду сочетания нескольких аутоиммунных эндокринопатий и рациональной терапии. Цель: проанализировать особенности клинических проявлений и лечения аутоиммунного полигландулярного синдрома 2-го типа на конкретном примере. Материалы и методы. Для рассмотрения представлен наблюдаемый нами клинический случай синдрома Шмидта у пациентки 36 лет. Имели место первичная надпочечниковая недостаточность с аутоиммунным процессом к 21-гидроксилазе и наличие аутоиммунного тиреоидита с развитием гипотиреоза. Результаты. В клинических проявлениях заболевания доминировали синдромы гипотензии, общей и мышечной слабости, гиперпигментации, потери массы тела, диспептических расстройств, усугубившиеся в результате присоединения вирусной инфекции, на фоне отечного синдрома. Дополнительное обследование выявило значительное повышение адренокортикотропного гормона, ренина, гиперкалиемию, гиперхолестеринемию, повышение 17-гидроксипрогестерона, тиреотропного гормона, гипотироксинемию, повышение антител к 21-гидроксилазе и к тиреоидной пероксидазе при уменьшении объема щитовидной железы с наличием множественных линейных включений, повышением эхогенности. Анализ выявленных гормональных, метаболических и патоморфологических изменений позволил установить наличие в данном клиническом случае синдрома Шмидта. Проводимое лечение глюкокортикоидами сопровождалось побочными реакциями, что привело к неоднократной замене препаратов. Выбор был сделан в пользу кортефа, доза тщательно оттитрована под контролем кортизолурии. Назначение левотироксина сопровождалось достижением эутиреоза. Выводы. Манифестация синдрома Шмидта при одновременном проявлении первичной надпочечниковой недостаточности аутоиммунного генеза и аутоиммунного тиреоидита с развитием гипотиреоза отличалась взаимно отягощающим течением. Имелись значительные трудности в лечении данного полигландулярного синдрома, связанные с коррекцией гипокортицизма, вследствие плохой переносимости глюкокортикоидов, что требовало постоянного наблюдения, неоднократного контроля за состоянием гормонального и метаболического статусов.

Evaluation of Allergic Disease Prevalence and Related Risk Factors in Children with Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Background: Allergic and autoimmune diseases are caused by an impaired immunological response resulting from different types of T-helper (Th) cells. Since the Th cell production is in a certain balance, an inverse relationship between the 2 disease groups may exist. In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency of allergic diseases in children with autoimmune thyroiditis (AT). Methods: Symptoms of allergic diseases were investigated by the (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) ISAAC questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered to a group of 300 children with AT and a control group of 300 children with no known autoimmune disease. The risk factors for allergic diseases and sociodemographic characteristics were investigated. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed with the risk factors of allergic diseases. Results: Asthma, wheezing during the last year, wheezing with exercise, disease-free night cough, and night cough were significantly less common in patients with AT. Allergic rhinitis symptoms, except physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis, are found significantly less frequently in patients with AT. It was found that the presence of AT and an increase in the number of children in the family reduce the risk of allergic diseases; cat-dog contact before 1 year of age and the presence of asthma, eczema, or allergic rhinitis in the mother increase the risk of allergic diseases. Conclusions: Asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms were significantly less common in children with AT. AT reduces the risk of allergic diseases.

Peculiarities of sonoelastographic imaging of thyroid papillary cancer in presence of autoimmune thyroiditis

To determine the features of visualization of papillar thyroid cancer (PTC) in presence of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) according to sonoelastography data. 155 patients were examined (75 PTC, 30 AIT, 20 PTC in presence of AIT and 30 with diffuse parenchymal changes) and 30 patients of the control group. Among patients with PTC 68 (90.7%) were represented by female (mean age 46.713.12 years) and 7 (9.3%) by male (average age 48.14.05 years) patients, PTC in presence of AIT by 19 female (average age 46.916.98 years) and 1 male (22 years) patients. Ultrasound investigation was performed with devices Toshiba Aplio-400 and Toshiba Aplio-500 (Japan) by the standard method and using elastography. A surface transducer with a frequency of 1014 MHz was used. An analysis of the thyroid ultrasound image was performed in correspondence with TI-RADS. For a qualitative assessment of the elastographic picture of thyroid foci, the TsukubaUeno assessment visual standardized system was implemented. According to the TI-RADS scale, most nodular formations are assigned to category 4. With TPC with an unchanged thyroid gland, category 4 was determined in 52 patients (69.3%), and with PR in presence of AIT 15 patients (75%). When determining the qualitative criteria for Tsukuba Ueno, the majority of tumors were assigned to types 3b and 4: cancers in presence of AIT 95% and cancers with no changes to thyroid gland 81.3%. Sonoelastographic criteria for thyroid parenchyma with AIT with a high degree of confidence are significantly higher than in the control group (p0.000). In a comparative analysis of thyroid sonoelastography in PTC with unchanged parenchyma and AIT, changes according to compression elastography are statistically unreliable. In shear wave elastography, sonoelastographic criteria for PTC are significantly higher in patients with AIT (p0.02 when measured in kPa, p0.01 when measured in m/s). Sonoelastography data can be used as additional criteria in the differential diagnosis of focal thyroid formations.

Development and Internal Validation of a Predictive Model for Individual Cancer Risk Assessment for Thyroid Nodules

The objective of this study was to develop and validate a predictive model for the assessment of the individual risk of malignancy of thyroid nodules based on clinical, ultrasound, and analytic variables. A retrospective case-control study was carried out with 542 patients whose thyroid nodules were analyzed at our endocrinology department between 2013 and 2018 while undergoing treatment for thyroidectomy. Starting with a multivariate logistic regression analysis, which included clinical, analytic, and ultrasound variables, a predictive model for thyroid cancer (TC) risk was devised. This was then subjected to a cross-validation process, using resampling techniques. In the final model, the independent predictors of the risk of malignancy were: being male, age of the extremes, family history of TC, thyroid-stimulating hormone level >4.7 μU/L, presence of autoimmune thyroiditis, solid consistency, hypoechogenicity, irregular or microlobed borders, nodules that are taller than they are wide, microcalcifications, and suspicious adenopathy. With a cut-off point of 50% probability of thyroid cancer, the predictive model had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.925 (95% confidence interval 0.898 to 0.952). Finally, using the 10-fold cross-validation method, the accuracy of the model was found to be 88.46%, with a kappa correlation coefficient of 0.62. A predictive model for the individual risk of malignancy of thyroid nodules was developed and validated using clinical, analytic, and ultrasound variables. An online calculator was developed from this model to be used by clinicians to improve decision-making in patients with thyroid nodules.

The CD63 basophil activation test as a diagnostic tool for assessing autoimmunity in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria

Over the past years, it has become widely recognized that a proportion of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) cases is of autoimmune origin, however, the search for reliable diagnostic tools to confirm underlying autoimmune pathophysiology is ongoing. The CD63 basophil activation test (CD63 BAT) has recently become useful for diagnosing autoimmune CSU. To analyse the correlation between positive CD63 BAT results, total IgE antibody levels, and the presence of autoimmune thyroiditis as a comorbidity in patients diagnosed with CSU. We performed a retrospective analysis of CD63 BAT results obtained from 87 CSU and 20 non-CSU patients. The information extracted from the patients' records included age, gender, total IgE levels, clinical history of autoimmune thyroiditis (AT), and the presence of anti-thyroid autoantibodies. Positive CD63 BAT results were significantly more frequent in CSU patients compared with non-CSU subjects (p=0.045). Furthermore, we found a strong significant negative correlation between the stimulation index (SI) value for CD63 BAT and total IgE levels in CD63 BAT-positive CSU patients (p=0.004; Spearman's rank correlation coefficient ρ=-0.322), meaning that higher SI values corresponded to lower total IgE values, and vice versa. The current standard set of diagnostic tools cannot be reliably used to determine when CSU is caused by autoimmune mechanisms. There is evidence that CD63 BAT represents a helpful diagnostic tool for detecting underlying autoimmunity. We show that high SI values in CD63 BAT-positive CSU patients correlate negatively with their total IgE levels. The clinical relevance of this effect needs to be investigated further.

SAT-LB090 Osteoporosis in Menopausal Women with Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Introduction. Autoimmune thyroiditis may be an important factor that can affect bone quality. There seems to be a connection between systemic inflammation and impaired bone density. Disturbance in osteclastic activity in new bone formation might be a consequence of chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorders leading to osteopenia or osteoporosis. Aim. To estimate the prevalence of osteoporosis in menopausal women with autoimmune thyroiditis. Patients and method. Cross-sectional study of a tertiary endocrine center. 207 menopausal women diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis underwent a bone density scan: dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) along with phospho-calcic (Ca, P, PTH, vit D) and thyroid (TSH, TPO-Ab) profile. Results. The mean age of the patients was 63.24±9.33. According with medical history and treatment 91 (43.9%) patients presented hypothyroidism, 14 (6.8%) hyperthyroidism and 102 (49.3%) without known thyroid dysfunction at the moment of screening. After the DEXA scan 77 patients (37.1%) had a T-score< -2.5 SD, 120 (58%) T-score between -2.5 and -1 SD, and 10 patients (4.9%) a T-score> -1SD. In the group with osteoporotic women 32 (41.5%) had treatment with levothyroxine, 4 (5.2%) had treatment with methimazole and 41 (53.3%) no treatment. In the group with osteopenia 55 women (45.9%) had treatment with levothyroxine, 56 (46.6%) no treatment and 9 patients (7.5%) had treatment with methimazole. In the group with normal BMD 5 patients (50%) had no treatment, 4 (40%) had treatment with levothyroxine and only 1 (10%) was in treatment with methymazole. 193 patients (93.2%) presented normal thyroid function (TSH 0.27-4.20µUI/ml) and only 14 women with autoimmune thyroiditis presented abnormal TSH (6 with TSH> 10 and 8 TSH< 0.27 µUI/ml). All the 6 patients with high TSH were treated with levothyroxin and required an increase in levothyroxine dosage. Of the 8 patients with decreased TSH: 4 were treated with levothyroxin, 3 with methimazole and 1 with no treatment. All these patients required a change in dosage according with TSH values and clinical examination. Conclusions. In our study the prevalence of osteoporosis was 37.1%. The presence of autoimmune thyroiditis was associated with an increased risk of low bone density regardless the thyroid function. In a fairly equal number of cases 41.5% with substitutive treatment (for hypothyroidism) vs. 53.3% untreated (euthyroidism) the diagnosis of osteoporosis was made. From the clinical point of view our results shows the importance of screening for osteoporosis in menopausal women with autoimmune thyroiditis Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts presented at ENDO are embargoed until the date and time of presentation. For oral presentations, the abstracts are embargoed until the session begins. s presented at a news conference are embargoed until the date and time of the news conference. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.

Personal and situational anxiety in young patients with the combined course of gastroesophageal reflux disease and autoimmune thyroiditis

Objective — to assess the psychoemotional status of young patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) associated with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). Materials and methods. The examinations involved 57 students with a combined course of GERD and AIT with the mean age of of 22.1 ± 2.11 years. The male subjects prevailed (56.1 %). The GERD screening was conducted with the use of GERD Screener questionnaire. Verification of GERD form was carried out endoscopically. The clinical data, instrumental examinations, the level of antibodies to the thyroid gland (TG), its function was taken into account in the diagnosis of AIT. Statistical processing included the calculation of the chi-square test with the Yates correction (Yates’ᵪ2). Results . Erosive GERD form was established in 9 patients (15.8 %). The presence of AIT was confirmed by an increase in the level of antibodies to TG. Euthyroidism was observed in 75.4 % of cases, a decrease in thyroid function was detected in 17.5 % of the examined patients, hyperthyroidism was diagnosed in 7.0 % of patients. Testing by the Spielberger-Hanin technique showed the following results. A high level of situational anxiety was observed in 39 (68.4 %) cases, moderate manifestations of situational anxiety occurred in 11 (19.3 %) patients, «relative comfort» was noted by 7 patients. Assessment of personal anxiety showed that the majority of patients with GERD and AIT (from 80.7 % to 93 %) indicated serious manifestations of this type of anxiety. They predisposed to the perception of certain incentives, as dangerous for self-esteem. The levels of personal and situational anxiety correlated among themselves in 45 (78.9 %) individuals. However, in 12 cases there was a dissonance between the T-property and the T-state, including: in 2 patients with hyperthyroidism; in 5 patients with hypothyroidism; in 5 patients with an euthyroid status. Hormonal thyroid dysfunction significantly influenced the development of «personality-situational anxiety dissonance». At the same time, the relationship between manifestations of anxiety and morphological changes in the mucosa of the esophagus has not been noted. Conclusions. The students refer to the category of subjects with prerequisites for changes in the central nervous system and in the behavioural sphere due to the specifics of the learning process and interpersonal communication. The combined course of GERD and AIT in young people occurs against the background of heightened situational and personal anxiety, or under conditions of «personality-situational anxiety dissonance». These psychoemotional disorders can aggravate the clinical manifestations of diseases and promote their frequent recurrence (exacerbation, progression).

Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Thyroid Autoimmunity.

Psoriasis (PsO) is a chronic relapsing/remitting autoimmune skin disease, associated with an increased risk of other autoimmune disorders. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis occurring approximately in 30% of PsO patients. Sporadic cases of association between PsO and autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITDs) have been reported. However, two different recent studies did not find any association between them. In patients with PsO and PsA, an association with AITD has been shown by most of the studies in adults, but not in the juvenile form. In PsA women and men, thyroid autoimmunity [positive antithyroid peroxidase (AbTPO) antibodies, hypoechoic thyroid pattern] and subclinical hypothyroidism were more prevalent than in the general population. An association has been shown also in patients with PsO, arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease, who have more frequently AITD. A Th1 immune predominance has been shown in early PsO, and PsA, with high serum CXCL10 (Th1 prototype chemokine), overall in the presence of autoimmune thyroiditis. This Th1 immune predominance might be the immunopathogenetic base of the association of these disorders. A raised incidence of new cases of hypothyroidism, thyroid dysfunction, positive AbTPO, and appearance of a hypoechoic thyroid pattern in PsA patients, especially in women, has been shown recently, suggesting to evaluate AbTPO levels, thyroid function, and thyroid ultrasound, especially in PsA women. Thyroid function follow-up and suitable treatments should be performed regularly in PsA female patients at high risk (thyroid-stimulating hormone within the normal range but at the higher limit, positive AbTPO, hypoechoic, and small thyroid).

Association between BRAFV600E mutation and the clinicopathological features of solitary papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

The B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase (BRAF)V600E mutation is an important oncogene in the development of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and has been identified as a risk factor for poor prognosis in patients with PTC. However, whether the BRAFV600E mutation is a prognostic marker in patients with solitary papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (sPTMC) has not yet been established. The present study aimed to identify the association between BRAFV600E mutation and the clinicopathological features of patients with sPTMC. A total of 108 patients with sPTMC who underwent surgery at the Cancer Institute and Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between December 2010 and December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Exon 15 of the BRAF gene was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing was performed to detect the BRAFV600E mutation. Statistical analysis was subsequently performed using SPSS software (version 16.0). The association between BRAFV600E mutation and clinicopathological features of sPTMC was tested with the χ2 test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. There were 27 males and 81 females in the cohort, who were aged between 22 and 66 years old, with an average age of 42 years. The BRAFV600E mutation was found in 59 out of 108 (54.6%) patients with sPTMC. The presence of the BRAFV600E mutation was demonstrated to be significantly associated with extrathyroidal extension (P=0.019), advanced Tumor-Node-Metastasis stage (P=0.007) and the presence of autoimmune thyroiditis (P=0.010). The BRAFV600E mutation was not significantly associated with gender, anatomic location or subtype of sPTMC (P>0.05). In addition, the BRAFV600E mutation indicated poor prognosis in patients with sPTMC. These results suggest that the BRAFV600E mutation is a risk factor for poor prognosis in patients with sPTMC. This knowledge will aid in the risk stratification and post-operative management of patients with sPTMC.

Thyroid function and thyroid autoantibodies in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria.

IntroductionChronic urticaria (CU) is a skin disease caused by autoantibodies against high affinity immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor and against IgE. It is characterized by hives, erythematous wheals and redness present minimum twice a week for at least 6 weeks. It is observed that there is a strong association between CU and autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune thyroiditis (AT).AimTo verify the frequency of AT in patients suffering from chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and to confirm the coexistence of CU and AT in the Polish population.Material and methodsOne hundred and forty-eight patients with CSU were included to the study. The presence of anti-thyroperoxydase antibodies (anti-TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-Tg) was checked and thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4) and free triiodothyronine (fT3) concentration was measured. Results were compared with outcomes in a group of 35 patients with no history of skin disease.ResultsThirty-three patients were diagnosed with AT. Frequency of elevated anti-TPO (p = 0.0045) and anti-Tg (p = 0.013) levels was much higher in patients with CU. A comparison of the current study and previous ones was conducted. In a group with CU, there was a higher risk of elevated anti-TPO (OR = 6.69) and anti-Tg (OR = 6.01) levels.ConclusionsThere is a statistically significant difference in the presence of AT between the patients with CU and the whole population. Doctors should consider examining patients with CU for AT. Adequate therapy and guidance for patients could be implemented at an early stage of thyroid disease and help induce remission of skin disorders.

The cardiovascular system in type 2 diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorders in the absence of thyroid gland dysfunction

The state of the cardiovascular system was studied in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorders in the absence of thyroid gland dysfunction. 76.9% of the 302 patients with DM2 had thyroid pathology; in 23,8% it was not previously diagnosed. We compared euthyroid patients with DM2 without thy'ropathies and with diffuse-nodular changes largely in the form of difuse- multinodular non-toxic goiter and autoinnnune thyroiditis (AIT). It was demonstrated that enhanced frequency of thyroid disorders is related to DM2 duration and vascular complications. The predominant thyroid pathology in DM2 was diffuse-multinodular non-toxic goiter followed by autoimnune thvroiditis. Nodular forms in AIT without DM2 are rare whereas multinodularformns in the patients with DM2 and AIT occur much more fequently. Node formation is related to such DM2 complications as diabetic nephropathy, angiopathy, and retinopathy. The study showed that the frequency of both non-specific clinical changes characteristic of thyroid dysfunction and of specific cardiological manifestations in euthyroid patients with DM2 and thyroid pathology signficantly increases especially in the presence of AIT and anti-thyreoperoxidase antibodies, regardless the form of thyropathy. It may be due to imimuno-inflammatory cross talk between thyroid and myocardial tissues. Patients with DM2 and diffuse-nodular changes in the thyroid gland more frequently presented with dif ferent forms of atrial fibrillation and high-grade ventricular extrasystole than patients with AIT or DM2 without thyropathies. It is concluded that euthyroid patients with DM2 need their thyroid function to be regularly monitored. The development of examination algorithm is an object of further studies.