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Biomedical subjects

M Lenziardi

Publications and source records attributed to M Lenziardi.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Amiodarone iodine-induced hypothyroidism: risk factors and follow-up in 28 cases.

Amiodarone, an iodine-rich drug widely used for the treatment of cardiac tachyarrhythmias, may induce either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Of 467 patients chronically treated with this drug referred to our institution, amiodarone iodine-induced hypothyroidism (AIIH) developed in 28 patients (6%). AIIH patients were subdivided into two groups according to the presence (group A) or absence (group B) of underlying thyroid abnormalities. Thyroid autoantibodies were present in 10 of 19 patients from group A and 0 of 9 patients from group B. The thyroid 24-h radioiodine uptake (RAIU) was evaluated in 15 patients: low values (less than 4%) were found in three patients and detectable values (7-50%) were observed in 12. Perchlorate discharge tests were positive in all four patients tested. Follow-up data were available in 20 patients (16 in group A and four in group B). Hypothyroidism was transient in 12 (60%) and persistent for several months after amiodarone withdrawal in eight (40%). While all patients in group B had transient hypothyroidism, 50% of patients with underlying thyroid abnormalities (group A) had persistent hypothyroidism. Thyroid autoantibodies were found in seven of eight patients with persistent hypothyroidism and in only three of 12 patients with transient hypothyroidism. Conversely, seven of 10 patients with positive thyroid autoantibodies had persistent hypothyroidism and 9 of 10 patients with undetectable thyroid autoantibodies had transient hypothyroidism. These data indicate that: (i) AIIH may develop in patients with or without underlying thyroid abnormalities; (ii) RAIU is inappropriately elevated in many patients with AIIH; (iii) intrathyroidal iodine is not organified; (iv) serum thyroid autoantibodies represent a risk factor for the development of AIIH; (v) AIIH spontaneously remits after amiodarone withdrawal in patients without thyroid abnormalities, but may persist in patients with concomitant thyroid disorders, especially those with circulating thyroid autoantibodies.

Adult

Treatment of amiodarone associated thyrotoxicosis by simultaneous administration of potassium perchlorate and methimazole.

Amiodarone iodine induced thyrotoxicosis occurs frequently in patients residing in areas of mild iodine deficiency and in patients with preexisting goiter. Drug therapy of the hyperthyroidism is often unsuccessful. Twenty-three patients with amiodarone induced thyrotoxicosis were either not treated, treated with 40 mg methimazole daily or with methimazole and 1 gm potassium perchlorate daily for up to 40 days and then with methimazole alone. Thyrotoxicosis was more likely to spontaneously remit in patients without goiter. Therapy with methimazole alone was unsuccessful in inducing euthyroidism in 5 patients with goiter. However, combined therapy with methimazole and potassium perchlorate rapidly alleviated hyperthyroidism in almost all patients with goiter. This drug combination is successful because perchlorate inhibits the active transport of iodine into the thyroid and methimazole blocks the intrathyroidal synthesis of thyroid hormones.

Adult

Is humoral thyroid autoimmunity relevant in amiodarone iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIIT)?

Amiodarone, an iodine containing drug, may induce thyrotoxicosis by an uncertain mechanism. In this study the role of thyroid autoimmunity was evaluated in 28 consecutive patients referred to us because they had become hyperthyroid during long-term amiodarone administration. Titres of thyroglobulin and thyroid microsomal antibodies, TSH binding-inhibitory and thyroid stimulating antibodies were evaluated. Underlying thyroid disorders were demonstrated in 20 patients (9 of them had toxic diffuse goitre, seven toxic multinodular goitre and four toxic adenoma), while eight patients did not show any apparent thyroid gland abnormality. Circulating thyroid autoantibodies could be found in all amiodarone iodine-induced hyperthyroid patients with toxic diffuse goitre and in one with toxic multinodular goitre, whilst they were absent in the other patients. These studies suggest that thyroid autoimmunity has little if any role in the development of thyrotoxicosis in amiodarone treated patients without underlying thyroid disorders. Furthermore, in amiodarone-iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis associated with various thyroid diseases, the humoral markers of thyroid autoimmunity show an incidence similar to that observed in spontaneous hyperthyroidism.

Adult

Short term administration of potassium perchlorate restores euthyroidism in amiodarone iodine-induced hypothyroidism.

We studied the effect of potassium perchlorate (KClO4) in patients with hypothyroidism due to amiodarone. The short term administration of KClO4 to six such patients led to prompt restoration of euthyroidism, while the three untreated patients remained hypothyroid for 2-6 months. Since KClO4 inhibits thyroid iodide transport, thereby blocking further entrance of iodide into the thyroid and decreasing intrathyroidal iodide content, amiodarone-associated hypothyroidism is probably secondary to the inhibitory effect of excess intrathyroidal iodine on thyroid hormone synthesis.

Adult