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Search for other papers by Marta Nascimento Soares in
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Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
Department of Surgery and Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine from the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
Institute for Research Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
Department of Surgery and Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine from the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
Institute for Research Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Aim
The prevalence of thyroid nodules and the risk of thyroid cancer in patients with Graves’ disease is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of thyroid nodules and cancer in patients with Graves’ disease.
Methods
Retrospective observational study of adult subjects with Graves' disease (positive autoantibodies thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAbs)) between 2017 and 2021 at our center was done. We evaluated the prevalence of thyroid nodules and cancer in this population and characterized the predictive factors for thyroid malignancy using linear and logistic regression models.
Results
We evaluated a total of 539 patients with Graves' disease during a median follow-up of 3.3 years (25th–75th percentiles 1.5–5.2 years). Fifty-three percent had thyroid nodules and 18 (3.3%) were diagnosed with thyroid cancer (12 papillary microcarcinomas). All tumors were classified using TNM classification as T1, and only one had lymph node metastasis; there were no recordings of distant metastasis. Sex, age, body mass index, smoking, TSH, and TRAbs levels were not significantly different between patients with and without thyroid cancer. Patients with multiple nodules on ultrasound (OR 1.61, 95%CI 1.04–2.49) and with larger nodules (OR 2.96, 95%CI 1.08–8.14, for 10 mm increase in size) had a greater risk of thyroid cancer diagnosis.
Conclusion
Patients with Graves’ disease had a high prevalence of thyroid nodules and their nodules had a significant risk of thyroid cancer. The risk was higher in those with multiple and larger nodules. Most had low-grade papillary thyroid cancer. More studies are needed to clarify the clinical relevance of these findings.
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
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Health Investigation and Innovation Institute (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Health Investigation and Innovation Institute (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Public Health Unit, ACES Baixo Mondego, Coimbra, Portugal
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Department of Endocrinology, Hospital University Centre of São João, Porto, Portugal
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Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), Porto, Portugal
Health Investigation and Innovation Institute (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Objective
Previous trials show that selenium could be a very useful tool in the control and treatment of autoimmune thyroid diseases. In this cross-sectional study, through a survey, we aim to evaluate Portuguese endocrinologists' perception and pattern of prescription of selenium supplements in these diseases and verify its agreement with current guidelines.
Methods
The endocrinologists registered in the Portuguese Medical Association were sent an email with a web-based questionnaire, regarding their knowledge and use of selenium supplements in thyroid autoimmune pathology.
Results
A total of 105 physicians (33% of the total) submitted the survey. The selenium serum concentration in the general population was unknown to 80% of respondents. Over a third of respondents have never prescribed selenium for autoimmune thyroid disease. However, 89% are not afraid of recommending it, and 61% indicate Graves’ orbitopathy as the pathology they would supplement. In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, 36% of respondents use selenium occasionally or frequently, and this percentage rises to 60% in Graves’ disease.
Conclusions
Although recommendations only encompass mild Graves’ orbitopathy, selenium is prescribed across the spectrum of autoimmune thyroid diseases, probably due to recent studies that consistently show improvement of biochemical hallmarks in these patients. Further investigation is required on the impact of selenium supplements on primarily clinical outcomes and to identify disorders and/or patients who will benefit the most. Also, there is still insufficient knowledge of this field in the medical community, and evidence-based practice should continue to be promoted by endocrinology societies.
Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
North Lisbon University Hospital Center, Lisbon, Portugal
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University Hospital Center of São João, Porto, Portugal
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University Hospital Center of São João, Porto, Portugal
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Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
University Hospital Center of São João, Porto, Portugal
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Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
University Hospital Center of São João, Porto, Portugal
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Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Objective
To understand whether thyroid cells can be directly infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and to establish a putative correlation with the expression of the host entry machinery: ACE-2, TMPRSS2, and furin.
Methods
We assessed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus at the gene level by RT-PCR, viral RNA transcripts localization by in situ hybridization, and by detecting viral proteins by immunohistochemistry for the nucleocapsid and the spike proteins. Furthermore, we also described the immunoexpression of key host factors for virus entry in the COVID-19 thyroid samples.
Results
We performed RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 in all autopsy specimens and detected viral genome positivity in 13 of 15 thyroid tissues and in a lung specimen. In 9 of the 14 positive samples, we were also able to confirm SARS-CoV-2 signal by in situ hybridization. Immunohistochemistry for the viral nucleocapsid and spike protein was also positive for ten and nine of the RT-PCR-positive cases, respectively, but revealed a lower sensitivity. We also described, for the first time in a COVID-19 series, the immunohistochemical expression of ACE-2, TMPRSS2, and furin in the thyroid.
Conclusions
Our results obtained in thyroid specimens from deceased COVID-19 patients indicate that thyrocytes can be directly infected by SARS-CoV-2 since we detected the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genome in follicular cells. Nevertheless, we did not find a clear correlation between the presence of viral genome and the expression of the host factors for virus entry, namely ACE-2, TMPRSS2, and furin.
