Choosing Wisely for Thyroid Conditions: Recommendations of the Thyroid Department of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism

ABSTRACT Objective: Choosing Wisely (CW) is an initiative that aims to advance the dialogue between physicians and patients about low-value health interventions. Given that thyroid conditions are frequent in clinical practice, we aimed to develop an evidence-based list of thyroid CW recommendations. Materials and methods: The Thyroid Department of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SBEM) named a Task Force to conduct the initiative. The Task Force work was based on an electronic Delphi approach. The 10 recommendations that received the highest scores by the Task Force were submitted for voting by all SBEM associates. The 5 recommendations that received the highest scores by SBEM associates are presented herein. Results: The Task Force was composed of 14 thyroidologists from 10 tertiary-care, teaching-based Brazilian institutions. The brainstorming/ideation phase resulted in 69 recommendations. After the removal of duplicates and recommendations that did not adhere to the initiative's scope, 35 remained. Then the Task Force voted to attribute a grade (0 [lowest agreement] to 10 [highest agreement]) for each recommendation. The 10 recommendations that received the highest scores by the Task Force were submitted to all SBEM associates. A total of 683 associates voted electronically, attributing a grade (0 to 10) for each recommendation. The 5 recommendations that received the highest scores by the SBEM associates compose our final list. Conclusion: A set of recommendations to avoid unnecessary medical tests, treatments, or procedures for thyroid conditions are offered with a transparent methodology. This initiative aims to foster productive interactions between physicians and patients, stimulating shared decision-making.

The first five-year evaluation of cystic fibrosis neonatal screening program in São Paulo State, Brazil / Uma avaliação dos primeiros cinco anos do programa de triagem neonatal da fibrose cística no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil / Una evaluación de los primeros cinco años del programa de cribado neonatal de fibrosis cística en el Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

The Hospital of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo is one of the three screening centers in São Paulo State, Brazil, and has included a test for cystic fibrosis (CF) since February 6, 2010, by a court order. We evaluated the first five years of this CF-newborn screening program. The original immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT)/IRT screening protocol was adopted in Brazil. A total of 173,571 newborns were screened, 1,922 (1.1%) of whom showed IRT1 ≥ 70ng/mL. Of these, 1,795 (93.4%) collected IRT2, with elevated results (IRT2 ≥ 70ng/mL) in 102 of them (5.2%). We identified a total of 26 CF cases during this period, including three CF cases that were not detected by the CF-newborn screening. The incidence of the disease among the screened babies was 1:6,675 newborns screened. Median age at the initial evaluation was 42 days, comparable to that of neonates screened with the IRT/DNA protocol. Almost all infants with CF already exhibited some manifestations of the disease during the neonatal period. The mutation most frequently detected in the CF cases was F508del. These findings suggest the early age at the beginning of treatment at our center was due to the effort of the persons involved in the program regarding an effective active search. Considering the false negative results of CF-newborn screening and the early onset of clinical manifestations of the disease in this study, pediatricians should be aware of the diagnosis of CF even in children with negative test.

O Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo é um dos três centros de triagem da fibrose cística (FC) no estado de São Paulo, tendo incluído esse teste desde 6 de fevereiro de 2010, a partir de uma liminar judicial. O estudo avalia os primeiros cinco anos desse programa de triagem neonatal da FC. O Brasil adota o protocolo de triagem original, com o tripsinogênio imunorreativo (IRT)/IRT. Foram triados um total de 173.571 recém-nascidos, dos quais 1.922 (1,1%) mostraram IRT ≥ 70ng/mL. Destes, 1.795 (93,4%) tiveram amostras coletadas para IRT2, com resultados elevados (IRT2 ≥ 70ng/mL) em 102 deles (5,2%). Identificamos um total de 26 casos de FC durante esse período, inclusive 3 casos de FC que não foram detectados com a triagem neonatal. A incidência da FC foi de 1 caso em cada 6.675 recém-nascidos triados. A idade mediana na avaliação inicial foi 42 dias, comparável à idade de recém-nascidos triados com o protocolo IRT/DNA. Quase todos os lactentes com FC já exibiam algumas manifestações da doença durante o período neonatal. A mutação mais comum nos casos de FC foi a F508del. Os resultados em nosso centro indicam que a idade precoce no início do tratamento foi devido aos esforços do programa na implementação de uma busca ativa eficaz. Considerando os resultados falsos-negativos no programa de triagem neonatal para FC e o início precoce das manifestações clínicas da doença neste estudo, os pediatras devem estar cientes da possibilidade de diagnóstico de FC, mesmo em crianças com teste negativo.

El Hospital das Clínicas de la Facultad de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo Universidad es uno de los tres centros de cribado de fibrosis cística (FC) en el estado de São Paulo, incluyendo este test desde el 6 de febrero de 2010, debido a una medida cautelar judicial. El estudio evalúa los primeros cinco años de este programa de cribado neonatal de FC. Brasil adopta el protocolo de cribado original, con el tripsinógeno inmunorreactivo (TIR)/IRT. Se cribaron un total de 173.571 recién nacidos, de los cuales 1.922 (1,1%) mostraron IRT ≥ 70ng/mL. De estos, se obtuvieron 1.795 (93,4%) muestras recogidas para IRT2, con resultados elevados (IRT2 ≥ 70ng/mL) en 102 de ellos (5,2%). Identificamos un total de 26 casos de FC durante ese período, inclusive 3 casos de FC que no fueron detectados con el cribado neonatal. La incidencia de la FC fue de 1 caso por cada 6.675 recién-nacidos cribados. La edad media en la evaluación inicial fue 42 días, comparable a la edad de recién nacidos cribados con el protocolo IRT/DNA. Casi todos los lactantes con FC ya manifestaban algunos síntomas de la enfermedad durante el período neonatal. La mutación más común en los casos de FC era el F508del. Los resultados en nuestro centro indican que la edad precoz en el inicio del tratamiento se debía a los esfuerzos del programa en la implementación de una búsqueda activa eficaz. Considerando los resultados falsos-negativos en el programa de cribado neonatal para FC, y el inicio precoz de las manifestaciones clínicas de la enfermedad en este estudio, los pediatras deben ser conscientes de la posibilidad de diagnóstico de FC, incluso en niños con test negativo.

Preoperative detection of TERT promoter and BRAFV600E mutations in papillary thyroid carcinoma in high-risk thyroid nodules

ABSTRACT Objectives: This observational study analyzed telomerase reverse transcriptase (pTERT) mutations in 45 fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens obtained from thyroid nodules followed by postoperatively confirmation of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) diagnosis, examining their relationship with clinicopathologic aspects and the BRAFV600E mutation. Subjects and methods: Clinical information was collected from patients who presented to Ribeirao Preto University Hospital for surgical consultation regarding a thyroid nodule and who underwent molecular testing between January 2010 to October 2012. Tests included a DNA-based somatic detection of BRAFV600E and pTERT mutations. Results: We found coexistence of pTERTC228T and BRAFV600E mutations in 8.9% (4/45) of thyroid nodules. All nodules positive for pTERT mutations were BRAFV600E positives. There was a significant association between pTERTC228T/BRAFV600E with older age and advanced stage compared with the group negative for either mutation. Conclusions: This series provides evidence that FNA is a reliable method for preoperative diagnosis of high-risk thyroid nodules. pTERTC228T/BRAFV600E mutations could be a marker of poor prognosis. Its use as a personalized molecular medicine tool to individualize treatment decisions and follow-up design needs to be further studied.

Effects of drying and storage conditions on the stability of TSH in blood spots

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the influence of sample drying and storage temperature on TSH stability in neonatal screening. Subjects and methods Blood samples from 29 adult volunteers as a surrogate for neonatal blood (10 with normal TSH, 9 with overt hypothyroid and 10 with subclinical hypothyroidism) were spotted on filter paper and dried at 22°C or 35°C for 3 hours. The samples were then stored at 22°C, -4°C, or -20°C, and TSH measurements were performed at day 0 (D0), D7, D30, D60, D180, and D360 of storage. Results The drying temperature did not interfere with TSH measurement on D0. TSH values remained stable up to D30 when stored at 22°C and were stable up to D60 when stored in a refrigerator or freezer. Samples stored at 22°C had a greater decrease in TSH values than samples stored in a refrigerator or a freezer. Conclusions Freezer storage is not advantageous compared to storage in the refrigerator. At the end of one year, if confirmation of the initial result is required, a reduction of TSH concentrations should be taken into account.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma - Adverse events during systemic treatment: risk-benefit ratio

ABSTRACT Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor originating from parafollicular C cells of the thyroid and associated with mutations in the proto-oncogene REarranged during Transfection (RET). The prognosis of MTC depends on clinical stage, with a 95.6% 10-year survival rate among patients with localized disease and 40% among patients with advanced disease. Standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy have no significant impact on the overall survival of these patients and two tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors (TKIs), vandetanib and cabozantinib, have been recently approved for the systemic treatment of locally advanced or metastatic MTC. However, since patients with MTC and residual or recurrent disease may have an indolent course with no need for systemic treatment, and since these drugs are highly toxic, it is extremely important to select the patients who will receive these drugs in a correct manner. It is also essential to carefully monitor patients using TKI regarding possible adverse effects, which should be properly managed when occurring.

Iodine insufficiency in pregnant women from the State of São Paulo / Insuficiência iódica em gestantes paulistas

Objective : The intake of adequate amounts of iodine during pregnancy is essential for the neurological development of the fetus. The aim of this study was to assess iodine nutrition status in pregnant women from the state of São Paulo, Brazil.Material and methods : We analyzed urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in 191 pregnant and 58 non-pregnant women matched by age. We used the World Health Organization criteria to define sufficient iodine supply (median UIC: 150-249 µg/L among pregnant women, and 100-199 µg/L for non-pregnant women).Results : Median UIC of the pregnant women studied was lower than the recommended value (median = 137.7 µg/L, 95% CI = 132.9 – 155.9), while non-pregnant women had UIC levels within the appropriate range (median = 190 μg/L; 95% IC = 159.3-200.1). UIC was below 150 µg/L in 57% of the pregnant women.Conclusions : Although a larger sample is needed to consolidate these findings, these results raise concerns about the adequacy of the iodine supply of pregnant women in Brazil, especially considering the new determinations of the Brazilian government, which have recently reduced the concentrations of iodine in table salt to 15-45 mg/kg of salt. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2014;58(3):282-7.

Objetivo : O consumo de quantidade adequada de iodo durante a gestação é de fundamental importância para o desenvolvimento neurológico do feto. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o estado nutricional iódico em gestantes do estado de São Paulo, Brasil.Material e métodos : Analisamos a concentração urinária de iodo (UIC) em 191 gestantes e em 58 mulheres não gestantes de mesma faixa etária. Foram utilizados os critérios da OMS para definir suficiência iódica (mediana de UIC: 150-249 µg/L entre as gestantes e 100-199 µg/L para as não gestantes).Resultados : A mediana de UIC das gestantes estudadas esteve abaixo da recomendada (mediana = 137,7 μg/L; 95% IC = 132,9 – 155,9) enquanto a das mulheres não grávidas se mostrou na faixa adequada (mediana = 190 μg/L; 95% IC = 159,3 – 200,1). Entre as gestantes, 57% apresentaram UIC < 150 μg/L.Conclusões : Apesar de uma maior amostragem ser necessária para a confirmação desses achados, os resultados levantam preocupação quanto à suficiência iódica nas mulheres grávidas no Brasil, principalmente diante das novas determinações governamentais brasileiras quanto à redução das concentrações de iodo no sal de cozinha para 15-45 mg/kg. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2014;58(3):282-7.

Hipotireoidismo congênito: recomendações do Departamento de Tireoide da Sociedade Brasileira de Endocrinologia e Metabologia / Congenital hypothyroidism: recommendations of the Thyroid Department of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism

O hipotireoidismo congênito (HC) é o distúrbio endócrino congênito mais frequente, com incidência variando de 1:2.000 a 1:4.000 crianças nascidas vivas e uma das principais causas de retardo mental que pode ser prevenida. Os Programas de Triagem Neonatal para a doença permitem a identificação precoce dos afetados e seu tratamento de modo a evitar as complicações da falta do hormônio. A maioria dos casos de hipotireoidismo congênito é decorrente de disgenesias tireoidianas (85%), entre elas a ectopia, hipoplasia ou agenesia tireoidianas, e os demais resultam de defeitos de síntese hormonal. As crianças afetadas (> 95%) geralmente não apresentam sintomas sugestivos da doença ao nascimento. Os sintomas e sinais mais comuns são: icterícia neonatal prolongada, choro rouco, letargia, movimentos lentos, constipação, macroglossia, hérnia umbilical, fontanelas amplas, hipotonia e pele seca. Várias estratégias são utilizadas para a triagem do HC. No Brasil, esta é obrigatória por lei e geralmente é feita com a dosagem de TSH em sangue seco coletado do calcanhar. A idade recomendada para sua realização é após as 48 horas de vida até o quarto dia. A confirmação diagnóstica é obrigatória com as dosagens de TSH e T4 livre ou T4 total.

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common congenital endocrine disorder, with an incidence of 1:2,000 to 1:4,000 live births and it is a leading preventable mental retardation. Neonatal Screening Programs allow early identification of the disease and the adequate treatment of affected children can avoid the complications related to deprivation of the hormone. Most cases of primary congenital hypothyroidism (85%) are due to thyroid dysgenesis (ectopia, hypoplasia or agenesis) while the remaining result from defects in hormone synthesis. Affected children (> 95%) usually have no symptoms suggesting the disease at birth. The most frequent symptoms and signs are prolonged neonatal jaundice, hoarse cry, lethargy, slow movements, constipation, macroglossia, umbilical hernia, large fontanelle, hypotonia and dry skin. Around the world, various strategies are used for the screening of the CH. In Brazil, screening for CH is mandatory by law and usually done by serum TSH in dried blood collected from the heel. The recommended age for performing this test is after 48 hours of life until the 4th day. Diagnostic confirmation is required dosing TSH and free T4 or total T4 in serum.

Thyroid hormone resistance detected by routine neonatal screening / Resistência ao hormônio tireoidiano detectada por meio da triagem neonatal

We report the clinical and laboratory findings, and molecular analysis of a Brazilian patient with resistance to thyroid hormone syndrome (RTH) detected by neonatal screening. The index case was born at term by normal delivery with 2,920 g and 45 cm. TSH of the neonatal screening test performed on the 5th day of life was of 13.1 µU/mL (cut-off = 10 µU/mL). In a confirmatory test, serum TSH level was 4.3 µU/mL, total T4 was 19 µg/dL (confirmed in another sample, Total T4 = > 24.0 µg/dL), free T4 was 3.7 ηg/dL, and free T3 was 6.7 pg/mL. Direct sequencing of the beta thyroid hormone receptor gene revealed mutation c.1357C>A (P453T), confirming the diagnosis of RHT. Family study demonstrated the presence of RTH in his 1-year-and-3-month-old sister, in his 35-year-old father, and in his 68-year-old paternal grandfather. All of them had goiter and only his father had received an erroneous diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. The present case shows that clinical evaluation and a judicious interpretation of total T4/free T4 concentrations in a newborn recalled due to slightly altered neonatal TSH can contribute to the diagnosis of RTH.

O objetivo deste estudo é relatar o caso de um paciente brasileiro com resistência ao hormônio tireoidiano (RTH) detectado por meio da triagem neonatal. O caso índice nasceu de parto normal a termo com peso de 2.920 g e estatura de 45 cm. Realizou o teste de triagem neonatal no quinto dia de vida com TSH neonatal = 13,1 µU/mL (valor de corte = 10 µU/mL). O TSH confirmatσrio no soro foi de 4,3 µU/mL, T4 Total de 19 µg/dL (confirmado em outra amostra, T4 Total = > 24,0 µg/dL), T4 Livre de 3,7 ηg/dL e T3 Livre de 6,7 pg/mL. O sequenciamento direto do gene do receptor βdo hormínio tireoidiano revelou a mutação c.1357C>A (P453T), confirmando o diagnóstico de RHT. O estudo de sua família confirmou RTH em sua irmã (1 ano e 3 meses), em seu pai (35 anos) e em seu avô paterno (68 anos). Todos apresentavam bócio e apenas seu pai havia recebido o diagnóstico errôneo de hipertireoidismo. Este caso ilustra que a avaliação clínica e a interpretação criteriosa das concentrações de T4 Total/Livre em um recém-nascido, reconvocado por TSH neonatal discretamente alterado, poderão servir para o diagnóstico da RTH.

Programa de Triagem Neonatal do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil / Neonatal Screening Program at the University Hospital of the Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine, São Paulo University, Brazil

O Programa de Triagem Neonatal do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil, instituído em 1994 diagnosticou, até 2005, 76 crianças com hipotireoidismo congênito, 10 com fenilcetonúria e 25 com hemoglobinopatias, o que representou uma incidência de 1:2.595, 1:19.409, 1:4.120, respectivamente. Foram diagnosticadas 2.747 crianças com traço falciforme (1:37,5 nascidos vivos). A cobertura média do programa foi de 94,5 por cento. Houve uma considerável melhora nos parâmetros de avaliação da qualidade do programa no período, porém, sem atingir os índices ideais. Campanhas visando à maior divulgação da importância da triagem neonatal são necessárias para aumentar a cobertura e a instituição do 3º dia de vida do recém-nascido como sendo o Dia do Teste do Pezinho poderia contribuir para que idades mais precoces de tratamento fossem atingidas, melhorando o prognóstico das crianças acometidas.

The Neonatal Screening Program at the University Hospital of the Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine, São Paulo University, Brazil, was introduced in 1994. As of December 2005, congenital hypothyroidism had been diagnosed in 76 infants, phenylketonuria in 10, and hemoglobinopathies in 25, representing incidence rates of 1:2,595, 1:19,409, and 1:4,120, respectively. A total of 2,747 newborns had the sickle cell trait, i.e., were heterozygous for the sickle mutation (1:37.5 live births). The program's mean coverage during this period was 94.5 percent. There was major improvement in the parameters for evaluating the program's quality, although they were still far from ideal. Public-awareness campaigns on the importance of neonatal screening are needed to increase the program's coverage. Setting postnatal day 3 as the standard Day for the Heel Stick Test would help ensure treatment at earlier ages, thus improving prognosis for affected infants.

E449X mutation in the thyroid hormone receptor β associated with autoimmune thyroid disease and severe neuropsychomotor involvement / Mutação E449X no receptor β do hormônio tireoidiano associada com doença tireoidiana auto-imune e retardo neuropscicomotor grave

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical and molecular aspects of a patient with a diagnosis of Resistance to Thyroid Hormone (RTH) harboring the E449X mutation associated with autoimmune thyroid disease and severe neuropsychomotor retardation. METHODS: We present a case report including clinical and laboratory findings, and molecular analysis of a Brazilian patient with RTH. RESULTS: A 23-year old male presented hyperactivity disorder, attention deficit, delayed neuropsychomotor development, and goiter. Since the age of 1 year and 8 months, his mother had sought medical care for her son for the investigation of delayed neuropsychomotor development associated with irritability, aggressiveness, recurrent headache, profuse sudoresis, intermittent diarrhea, polyphagia, goiter, and low weight. Laboratory tests revealed normal TSH, increased T3, T4, antithyroglobulin and antimicrosomal antibody titers. Increasing doses of levothyroxine were prescribed, reaching 200 µg/day, without significant changes in his clinical-laboratory picture. Increasing doses of tiratricol were introduced, with a clear clinical improvement of aggressiveness, hyperactivity, tremor of the extremities, and greater weight gain. Molecular study revealed a nonsense mutation in exon 10, in which a substitution of a guanine to tyrosine in nucleotide 1345 (codon 449) generates the stop codon TAA, confirming the diagnosis of RTH. CONCLUSION: This patient has severe neuropsychomotor retardation not observed in a single previous report with the same mutation. This may reflect the lack of a genotype-phenotype correlation in affected cases with this syndrome, suggesting that genetic variability of factors other than β receptor of thyroid hormone (TRβ) might modulate the phenotype of RTH.

OBJETIVOS: Descrever aspectos clínicos e moleculares de um paciente com resistência ao hormônio tireoidiano (RHT) portador da mutação E449X associada a doença tireoideana auto-imune e retardo neuropscicomotor grave. MÉTODOS: Relatamos um caso incluindo achados clínicos, laboratoriais e análise molecular de um paciente brasileiro com RHT. RESULTADOS: Paciente masculino, 23 anos de idade, apresentou-se com distúrbio de hiperatividade, déficit de atenção, retardo no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor e bócio. Desde 1 ano e 8 meses de idade, sua mãe procurou assistência médica para investigação do retardo do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor associado com irritabilidade, agressividade, cefaléia recorrente, sudorese profusa, diarréia intermitente, polifagia, bócio e perda de peso. Avaliação laboratorial evidenciou TSH normal e aumento do T3, T4 e anticorpos antimicrossomal e antitireoglobulina. Doses crescentes de levotiroxina foram prescritas, máximo de 200 µg/dia, sem significativas alterações em seu quadro clínico-laboratorial. Doses crescentes de tiratricol foram introduzidas com melhora clínica evidente da agressividade, da hiperatividade, do tremor de extremidades e maior ganho de peso. O estudo molecular revelou uma mutação nonsense no éxon 10, no qual a substituição da guanina pela tirosina no nucleotídeo 1345 (códon 449) gerou um stop códon TAA, confirmando o diagnóstico da RHT. CONCLUSÃO: Este paciente tem um grave retardo neuropiscomotor não observado em um relato único anterior com a mesma mutação. Isto pode refletir a falta de relação genotipo-fenótipo nos casos afetados com esta síndrome sugerindo que a variabilidade genética de outros fatores, além do receptor do hormônio tireoidiano (HT), possa modular o fenótipo da RHT.