Endocrine - Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism Flashcards
Describe the physiological process of thyroid hormone synthesis
(1) Thyroglobulin biosynthesis
• Thyroglobulin is synthesized in ribosomes of follicle cells
• Stimulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and cAMP
• Thyroglobulin in follicular cells is incorporated into exocytotic vesicles and extruded into colloid in lumen of follicle
(2) Thyroid hormone biosynthesis
• Iodide trapping: Dietary iodide is taken up actively by Na-I symporter
• Oxidation: Iodide is oxidize to iodine by thyroidal peroxidase
• Iodination / Organification: Tyrosine residue in thyroglobulin is iodinated and form monoiodotyrosine (MIT) and diiodotyrosine (DIT)
• Coupling: MIT and DIT are coupled together to form T3 and T4
(3) Secretion of thyroid hormones
• Stimulation of thyroid gland leads to endocytosis of colloid
• Endocytic vesicles fuse with lysosomes inside the follicular cells
• T3 and T4 are cleaved from the thyroglobulin and released into circulation
Forms of thyroid hormone transport in blood
o Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) (70%)
o Pre-albumin (15%)
o Albumin (15%)
o Free in circulation (< 1%)
Describe activation and deactivation of thyroid hormone
Deiodination reactions in the peripheral tissues activate and inactivate TH
• Deiodinase Type 1 / 2 /3 to catalyse the reaction
• Deiodination of T4 into T3 (active) or reverse T3 (inactive)
Effect of thyroid hormone on target cells
Thyroid hormones receptors (TRs)
• Located in the nuclei of target cells
• Bound to thyroid hormone response elements in DNA
Mechanism of action
• Cells receive free thyroid hormones (TH) from blood
• T4 is deiodinated to T3 once inside cell
• T3 then enters nucleus and binds to thyroid hormone receptors (TRs)
• T3 triggers the dissociation of co-repressor from TRs and binding of co-activator
• TRs and T3 forms a complex with nuclear receptor- retinoid X receptor (RxR) to initiate gene transcription
• Results in mRNA and protein production
Compare T3 and T4
- Mode of transport in blood
- Pool size
- Source
- Location
- Activity
- Onset of action
- Half-life
Compare T3 and T4
- Mode of transport in blood
- Pool size
- Source
- Location
- Activity
- Onset of action
- Half-life
Effect of thyroid hormone on target end-organs
- Increase Basal metabolic rate: Increase O2 consumption and ATP production
- Growth: permissive effect on growth hormone, protein synthesis, bone remodeling, coordinate PTH and Calcitonin
- Biphasic control of carbohydrate and lipid synthesis/ breakdown: Increase glucose and lipid metabolism, remove LDL and cholesterol
- CVS: increase contractility, permissive effect on catecholamines, vasodilation
- CNS: development and behavior
- Temperature: heat production
Differentiate hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis
Thyrotoxicosis is defined as the state of thyroid hormone excess
Hyperthyroidism is the result of excess thyroid function
Causes of primary hyperthyroidism
Grave’s diseases
Toxic multinodular goitre
Toxic adenoma
Metastatic thyroid cancer
Mutation of TSH receptor
Mutation of Gsa (McCune-Albright syndrome)
Causes of secondary hyperthyroidism
TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma
Chorionic gonadotropin-secreting tumour
Gestational thyrotoxicosis
Causes of thyrotoxicosis without hyperthyroidism
(Very similar to transient hypothyroidism)
Subacute (De Quervain’s) thyroiditis
Silent thyroiditis
Destructive thyroiditis
• Amiodarone/ Irradiation
• Release of TH into blood
Levothyroxine (T4) overdose
Causes of primary hypothyroidism
Iodine deficiency
Autoimmune hypothyroidism
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Atrophic thyroiditis
Congenital hypothyroidism
• Congenital absence or ectopic thyroid gland
• Thyroid gland dysgenesis (80 – 85%)
• Dyshormonogenesis (10 – 15%)
• TSH-R antibody-mediated (5%)
Infiltrative hypothyroidism
• Sarcoidosis
• Amyloidosis
• Scleroderma
• Riedel’s thyroiditis
Drug-induced hypothyroidism
• Amiodarone
• Lithium
Iatrogenic hypothyroidism
• 131I treatment
• Subtotal or total thyroidectomy
• External irradiation of neck
Causes of secondary hypothyroidism
Hypothalamic disease
• Hypothalamic tumours
• Trauma/ Infiltrative disorders
Hypopituitarism
• Pituitary tumour
• Pituitary surgery or irradiation
• Sheehan’s syndrome
• Trauma/ Infiltrative disorders
Causes of transient hypothyroidism
Subacute (De Quervain’s) thyroiditis
Silent thyroiditis (including post-partum thyroiditis)
Withdrawal of supraphysiologic T4 treatment
Post-131I treatment
Post-subtotal or total thyroidectomy
Tests for thyroid function
Which marker screens for thyroid dysfunction?
- Serum free thyroid hormone fT3, fT4: unbound thyroid hormone
- Serum TSH
- Serum total T4: T4 bound to plasma-binding proteins
Serum TSH screens for thyroid dysfunction
MOST sensitive indicator of thyroid function due to short t1/2
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism
Hyperactivity/ Irritability/ Dysphoria
Heat intolerance and increased sweating
Palpitations
Fatigue and weakness
Weight loss with increased appetite
Hair loss
Diarrhea
Polyuria
Oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea
Loss of libido
Signs of hyperthyroidism
Tachycardia and AF
Tremor
Goitre
Warm and moist skin
Muscle weakness and proximal myopathy
Lid lag and lid retraction
• Permissive effect on catecholamine leading to sympathetic overactivity
• Sustained contraction of superior tarsal muscles
Thyroid eye signs
Pretibial Myxoedema
Gynecomastia
List all thyroid eye signs
Periorbital edema
Lid lag and lid retraction
Exophthalmos (proptosis)
Ophthalmoplegia (extra-ocular muscle involvement)
Corneal involvement (exposure keratitis)
Vision loss
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
General:
Fatigue and weakness
Cold intolerance
Weight gain with decreased appetite
Hair loss, Dry skin
Neuro:
Difficulty concentrating and poor memory
Impaired hearing
Paraesthesia
GI:
Constipation
Respi:
Dyspnea
Hoarseness
Gyn:
Menorrhagia (later oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea)
Signs of hypothyroidism
Skin:
Dry and cold skin
Alopecia
Puffiness of face, hands and feet/ Myxedema
Cardiovascular:
Bradycardia
Peripheral non-pitting edema
Neuro:
Hyporeflexia
Delayed tendon reflex relaxation
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Grading of Grave’s ophthalmopathy
Pathophysiology of periorbital edema and proptosis
T-cells and autoantibodies are reactive to extraocular muscles and retro-orbital tissues
Inflammation leads to deposition of collagen and glycosaminoglycan in muscles
Swelling of extraocular muscle and periorbital edema
Pathophysiology of Proptosis due to thyrotoxicosis
ONLY occurs in Grave’s disease
Protrusion of eyeball from orbit
Sclera is not covered by the lower eyelid
Eyes are anterior to the superior orbital margin when viewed from the back
How to examine for proptosis
ONLY occurs in Grave’s disease
Protrusion of eyeball from orbit
Sclera is not covered by the lower eyelid
Eyes are anterior to the superior orbital margin when viewed from the back
Complications of proptosis due to thyrotoxicosis
Opthalmoplegia/ Diplopia
Corneal ulceration
Chemosis
Conjunctivitis
Optic atrophy
Thyrotoxicosis hand signs
Fine tremor* - Due to sympathetic overactivity
Sweating, warm and moist skin* - Due to sympathetic overactivity
Onycholysis - Separation of nail from bed
Palmar erythema - Signs of Grave’s disease
Finger clubbing
Thyroid acropachy - Soft-tissue swelling of hands and finger clubbing
Abnormal pulse
Sinus tachycardia (Sympathetic overactivity)
Atrial fibrillation (Shortened refractory period of atrial cells related to sympathetic drive)
Bounding pulse and wide pulse pressure (High cardiac output associated with AS murmur)
Signs of thyrotoxicosis on arms and legs
Arms
- *- Proximal myopathy**
- *- Hyperreflexia**
Legs
- Proximal myopathy: Ask patient to stand up from squatting position
- Pretibial myxedema
Occurs in Grave’s disease and rarely Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Localized non-pitting edema of skin
Bilateral firm, elevated dermal nodules and plaques
Can be pink, brown or skin-colored
Hyaluronic acid accumulates in dermis and subcutis
Hypothyroidism hand signs
Peripheral cyanosis - Reduced cardiac output
Palmar crease pallor
Anemia due to
• Anemia of chronic disease
• Iron deficiency (menorrhagia)
• Folate deficiency (bacterial overgrowth)
Dry and cool skin
Yellow discoloration
Due to hypercarotenemia
Slowing down of hepatic metabolism of carotene
Abnormal pulse
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Sensory loss as carpal tunnel is thickened in myxoedema