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Biomedical subjects

A D Toft

Publications and source records attributed to A D Toft.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

A comparison of plasma TSH levels in patients with diffuse and nodular non-toxic goiter.

Plasma TSH levels were measured in 115 euthyroid patients with simple goiter, of whom 52 had diffuse and 63 nodular enlargement of the thyroid gland, and in 191 euthyroid patients without goiter. There was no significant difference between the plasma TSH levels in the patients with diffuse goiter and the non-goitrous controls, implying that the maintenance of diffuse hyperplasia is not dependent upon a raised level of plasma TSH. On the other hand, plasma TSH levels in the patients with nodular goiter were significantly lower than those recorded in either the patients with diffuse goiter (P less than 0.01) or in the patients without goiter (P less than 0.0001), supporting the view that thyroid function may be autonomous in nodular goiters.

Adenoma↗

Propranolol in the treatment of thyrotoxicosis by subtotal thyroidectomy.

Subtotal thyroidectomy was performed in 40 patients with thyrotoxicosis in whom propranolol alone was used as preparation for surgery. Propranolol was given orally in a dose of 40 mg every 6 h for a mean preoperative period of 17 days (range 4-60 days) and continued for seven days after operation. The mean +/- SE blood loss at operation was only 160 +/- 20 ml. The period of follow-up was from three to nine months. Recurrent thyrotoxicosis has not occurred in any patient. Low levels of total serum triiodothyronine (T3) and total serum thyroxine (T4) were observed in the early postoperative weeks in some patients and were associated with symptoms of mild hypothyroidism, but by six months in the presence of a raised serum thyrotropin (TSH) the thyroid hormone levels returned to normal. Permanent hypothyroidism developed in only two patients. Despite normal or low total serum T3 and T4 levels, the TSH response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) was absent in all patients one week after operation. At four weeks and at eight weeks, the response was absent or sub-normal in 70% and 20% of the patients respectively, indicating a delay in the recovery of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis previously exposed to high levels of T3 and T4. It is considered that subtotal thyroidectomy for thyrotoxicosis in patients prepared with propranolol is an acceptable procedure which has some advantages over the conventional preparation with carbimazole and potassium iodide, not the least of which are the potential reduction in preparation time, the more flexible timing of operation, and the reduced operative blood loss.

Female↗

Thyroid function in the long-term follow-up of patients treated with iodine-131 for thyrotoxicosis.

In February, 1972, 58% of patients euthyroid after iodine-131 therapy for thyrotoxicosis between 1954 and 1966 had a raised plasma thyroid-stimulating-hormone (T.S.H.) (greater than 7-4 mU/l) and 42% a normal T.S.H. level. A group of 69 of the euthyroid patients with a raised plasma T.S.H. (25-0 +/- 2-0 mU/l) in 1972 was re-examined annually for three years. There was no apparent change in the mean plasma T.S.H. level between 1972 and 1975 in the patients remaining euthyroid, but overt hypothyroidism developed in 3 patients in 1973, in a further 3 patients in 1974, and in 1 patient in 1975. In contrast, none of a group of 61 patients, euthyroid with a normal plasma T.S.H. (4-0 +/- 0-2 mU/l) in 1972, developed overt hypothyroidism over the next three years, although slightly raised T.S.H. levels were recorded in 3 patients in 1974 and in a further 6 patients in 1975. Both the mean serum T-4 and T-3 in the euthyroid patients with a raised plasma T.S.H. were significantly lower, but still in the respective normal ranges, than those in the euthyroid patients with a normal plasma T.S.H. No significant difference in the fasting serum-cholesterol or triglyceride levels could be demonstrated between the two groups. Since no patient with a normal plasma T.S.H. after iodine-131 treatment for thyrotoxicosis six to eighteen years earlier developed overt hypothyroidism over a three-year period, the follow-up of such patients need not be so frequent as that of similarly treated euthyroid patients with a raised plasma T.S.H. in whom overt hypothyroidism develops at the rate of 2-5% per year.

Cholesterol↗

Plasma TSH and serum T-4 levels in long-term follow-up of patients treated with 131-I for thyrotoxicosis.

In February 1972 58% of patients euthyroid after iodine-131 therapy given for thyrotoxicosis between 1954 and 1966 had a high plasma TSH (>7.4 muU/ml) and 42% a normal plasma TSH level. A group of 69 of the euthyroid patients with high plasma TSH levels (25.0+/-2.0 muU/ml) in 1972 were re-examined 15 and 24 months later. The mean plasma TSH in the 66 patients remaining euthyroid at 15 months was 22.6+/-1.8 muU/ml, while three patients had become hypothyroid. At 24 months 64 of the patients were still available for study, of whom 61 remained euthyroid with a mean plasma TSH of 21.6+/-2.0 muU/ml, and a further three had become hypothyroid.All of a group of 61 of the euthyroid patients with normal plasma TSH levels (4.0+/-0.2 muU/ml) in 1972 remained euthyroid at 24 months with a mean plasma TSH of 4.1+/-0.3 muU/ml, though the plasma TSH level had become slightly raised in three.The mean serum T-4 level in the euthyroid patients with a high plasma TSH was significantly lower, though still in the normal range, than that in the euthyroid patients with a normal plasma TSH both in 1972 and in 1974.Since no patient with a normal plasma TSH level after iodine-131 treatment six to 18 years earlier for thyrotoxicosis developed hypothyroidism over a two-year period, the follow-up of such patients need not be so rigorous as that of similarly treated euthyroid patients with raised plasma TSH levels in whom hypothyroidism developed at the rate of 5% per year.

Follow-Up Studies↗