ECE2010 Poster Presentations Neuroendocrinology and Pituitary (<emphasis role="italic">Generously supported by Novartis</emphasis>) (125 abstracts)
Heterogeneous origin of idiopathic isolated central hypothyroidism
Marco Bonomi 1 , Domenico Vladimiro Libri 1 , Tiziana De Filippis 1 , Mario Maggi 2 , Alba Pilotta 3 , Annamaria De Bellis 4 , Alessandro Salvatoni 5 , Fabio Buzi 3 , Paolo Beck-Peccoz 1 , Luigi Nespoli 5 & Luca Persani 1
1Department of Medical Sciences, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS and Fondazione Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; 2Department of Physiopathology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; 3Growth and Development Unit, Children’s Hospital, Brescia, Italy; 4Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery F. Magrassi, A. Lanzara, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy; 5Department of Pediatrics, Insubria University, Varese, Italy.
Isolated central hypothyroidism (ICH) is a rare disease whose pathogenesis is so far linked to germinal mutations of TSHβ (several cases) or TRH receptor (TRHR) genes (only two cases). Here, we report the studies performed to elucidate the pathogenesis of idiopathic ICH in five cases (two men, three women) with low/normal TSH levels and low freeT4 levels (3–8 pmol/l). One male, negative at neonatal TSH screening, showed signs of severe hypothyroidism at 44 days, while the other patients were diagnosed during childhood or adulthood (age range: 3–42 years). All, but one with a partial empty sella, had a normal pituitary MRI, and negative history of traumatic or ischemic brain injuries. Thyroid ultrasound showed hypoplasia in two and normal glands in the others. Thyroid autoantibodies were negative in all cases. Absent/impaired TSH responses to TRH stimulation accompanied by normal PRL increases were registered in the three female patients and in the neonate. In this latter case, a homozygous intronic mutation (IVS2+5 G>A) known to alter the splicing of TSHβ gene was detected. No genetic alterations were detected in the 3 female patients with acquired ICH. The remaining patient presented at 3 years of age with severe obesity (48% excess of the ideal weight) and type 2 diabetes. He had a conserved TSH response to TRH, but TSHβ, Leptin receptor and TRH genes were normal. In all four negative cases, the possible autoimmune origin of ICH was then tested by evaluating anti-pituitary antibodies (APA). Interestingly, APA were positive in the three ICH women (two highly and one weakly positive) but not in controls. In conclusion, idiopathic isolated CH can have a heterogeneous pathogenesis involving genetic defects but, surprisingly, also autoimmunity. Autoimmune origin should be suspected when ICH appears to be acquired beyond infancy and the genetic origin has been excluded.
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Endocrine Abstracts
ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)
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