Endocrinology Flashcards
(118 cards)
T4
80% of thyroid hormone
converted to T3 and rT3 in target tissues
T3
20% of thyroid hormone
4x more potent
rT3
metabolically inactive
T4 –> T 3 + rT3 in equal amounts
increased rT3 conversion in sick eurthyroid syndrome
Free T3
active form
can freely diffuse through plasma membrane
amine hormone
receptor is in the nucleus - hydrophobic
Causes acquired hypothyroidism
Hashimotos
Iodine deficiency (1# cause worldwide)
Iodine excess
Thyroglobulin loss (protein losing enteropathy, ascites, nephrotic syndrome)
Primary congenital hypothyroidism
Main causes
85% sporadic, 15% hereditary
Dysgenesis (structural) 85%
Ectopic (lingual/sublingual)- 45%
Agenesis 33%
Hypoplasia
Dyshormonogenesis (functional- enzyme defect ) 11%
Due to AR genetic defect
Usually have goitre
Congenital hypothyroidism
presentation
95% asymptomatic first 3 months - then too late!
hypotonia
hypothermia
poor feeding
macrogossia
wide posterior fontanelle
distended abdomen
umbi hernia
dry skin
jaundice
constipation
delay passing meconium
Hashimotos
Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase (anti-TPO) 90-95% and Anti-Thyroglobulin 55-90% POSITIVE
USS- diffusely enlarged heterogenous thryroid
TPO iodises iodine to add it to thyroglobulin for the production of T4
Newborn screening is done after 48 hours of life because…
To avoid TSH surge that occurs at birth
Newborn screen detects HIGH TSH (rather than low T3/T4)
Doing it earlier would give many false positives
Newborn screening will detect all causes of congenital hypothyroid except
central hypothyroidism
as this doesnt produce a TSH rise
goal of hypothryroid treatment is to
normalise TSH, T3 or T4?
TSH!
Very sensitive marker of normal thyroid function
Dont really need to check T3 or T4 if TSH is normal
Hashimoto thyroiditis symptoms
weight gain
decreased height velocity
fatigue
lethargy
cold intolorence
bradycardia
goitre- painless, firm, irregular
rare- dysphagia, horseness, pain
increased risk SUFE
Hashimotos investigations
screen with TSH
if abnormal:
Would have low T3/T4
Elevated anti Tg and anti TPO
—> if antibodies not elevated, consider another cause for hypothyroidism
Treatment Hashimotos
L-T4
Goal: normalise TSH
Usually lifelong
Risk Hashimotos is increased in which syndromes
T1DM
Downs
Turners
Kleinfelter
Noonan
Bloods in Graves disease
elevated T3/T4, low TSH
Main antibody: TSH receptor antibody
Also elevated anti- TPO (thyroid peroxidase) and TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin–> acts like TSH)
Initial treatment of Graves disease
B blockers to block peripheral conversion of T4 to T3
treat 2-6 weeks
Carbimazole
onset of action several weeks thus beta blockers used in interim
avoid PTU - risk hepatotoxicity
Stop B blockers and reduce carbimazole when T4 and T3 are in the upper normal range
Adverse effects:
Embryology of thyroid
24 days
thickening of floor or pharynx
as tongue grows, the thyroid descends into neck
Thyroid hormone synthesis
iodine is taken up into thryroid folliculr cells
combine with thyroglobulin
enzyme- thyroid peroxidase
monoidoine tyrosine + diiodine tyrosine couples
what type of hormone is thyroxine
amine
hydrophobic
crosses plasma membrane to bind to receptor in cytoplasm
steroid hormones
synthesised from cholesterol
released immediately
hydrophobic
need a carrier in blood but can cross plasma membranes
bind to receptors in cytoplasm
affect gene expression
eg oestrogen, cortisol, aldosterone
peptide hormones
synthesised as pro hormones
stored in vesicles
hydrophilic
bind to receptors on cell surface, coupled to internally anchored proteins
complex activates second messangers- signal transduction eg cAMP, Ca, No
Fast onset, transient changes
eg insulin (binds to tyrosine kinase receptor), glucagon, ADH, oxytocin, prolactin, ACTH, PTH
amine hormones
synthesised from tyrosine
stored before release
can be hydrophilic (adrenaline), hydrophobic (T3. T4)
adrenaline acts on membrane receptors
thyroid hormones act on nuclear receptors
thus: adrenaline- like peptide, T3/T4- like steroid
Bound vs free thyroid hormone
free thyroid hormone is active and freely diffuse through plasma membranes
bound thyroid hormone (largely to thyroxine binding globulin - TBG)- cannot pass through plasma memberane, acts as reservoir
TBG made in liver