Thursday, February 12, 2015

Study group discussion: Thyroid, weight and ophthalmoplegia

We were told by our Pediatrics teacher that thyroid status and weight changes are not related. Weight gain in hypothyroidism, in fact due to myxoedema and not due to slow metabolism.
But almost every other book I read say weight changes are a part of symptomatology of thyroid disorders.
Would someone enlighten me about this?

In myxedema there is reduced breakdown of glycosoamimoglycans. Plus there is free fluid retention. A lot of factors come into play. I'll look it up and send a good resource on it.

And haan..also iy read in a book..that in thyrotoxicosis..30% of patients will have weight gain. So therefore, maybe the weight status are not characteristic to changes in thyroid profile.

Maybe.

The cause of the weight gain in hypothyroid individuals is also complex, and not always related to excess fat accumulation. Most of the extra weight gained in hypothyroid individuals is due to excess accumulation of salt and water.
Source: http://www.thyroid.org/weight-loss-and-thyroid

So, 'obesity' should not ideally be mentioned in symptoms of hypothyroidism?

Weight gain should be mentioned
Along with the various other signs and symptoms. The complete clinical picture is specific to thyroid diseases.

The mechanism maybe varied but weight gain is a symptom and should always be a differential for hypothyroidism.

Yup.

Also, in Grave's ophthalmopathy, GSGs are deposited in the retro orbital space. Shouldn't this be seen instead in hypothyroidism where there is reduced breakdown of GSGs?

It's because of autoimmunity
The antibodies stimulate deposition of GAGs. Has nothing to do with the effect of thyroid hormones. That's why, ophthalmoplegia can not be treated by anti thyroid medications.

Oh!

What is the treatment of ophthalmoplegia in Grave's?

It is symptomatic. Lubricants, steroids is all what we can prescribe.

Yes, steroids. To suppress the immune system.

Steroids are especially given in retinal pathologies.

What about a permanent cure?

I don't know about any permanent cure.

It's radioactive iodine 131 or thyroidectomy.

Permanent cure for opthalmopathy?

Hemithyroidectomy. Or if the graves is not too bad, we can give thyroid peroxidase inhibitors? And sometimes it will resolve by itself?
I was told the retro-orbital lipofibroblasts requires surgical removal of the mass behind the eye, but the lid lag will resolve once the thyrotoxicosis resolves?

Yes.

There are different surgeries for the opthalmoplegia..Don't remember the names.

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