Interferon alpha-induced hashimoto thyroiditis followed by transient graves disease in a patient with chronic HCV infection.

The case of a 37-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is presented. The patient had received a 6-month course of antiviral therapy with peg interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin, with concomitant clearance of hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA) from serum at the end of treatment. Three months after the treatment course he developed clinical and laboratory features of hypothyroidism along with high titers of thyroid peroxidase antibodies. Later on, while on treatment with levothyroxine, he developed all the clinical features of Graves disease along with increased levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)-receptor antibodies.This patient exhibited a rare sequence of immune-mediated thyroid disorders as a result of interferon alpha treatment. At the end of treatment, the patient developed Hashimoto thyroiditis, a typically Th1-response-mediated disease, followed sequentially after 6 months by Graves disease, a typically Th2-response-mediated disorder. Although both clinical entities have been described in patients receiving interferon-based regimens, to our knowledge, the changing pattern of immune-mediated thyroid disease in the same individual has not been reported in the literature.

Changes of liver and muscle enzymes activity in patients with rigor.

AIM: We investigated whether changes of liver and muscle enzymes activity are associated with rigor of several causes and have any prognostic significance. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with rigor were prospectively evaluated. Serum enzymes were measured at the onset of rigor and during the three following days. RESULTS: Causes of rigor were bacteremia (n=28), cholangiitis (n=12), protozoan infections (n=9), viral infections (n=10) and platelet transfusions (n=16). Increases in enzymes activity were observed with rigors from infectious causes, but not with that following platelet transfusions. Patients with cholangiitis demonstrated the highest ALT elevations, while those with viral infections the highest CPK levels. In bacteremia, CPK values increased significantly only in cases with dehydration and hypokalemia. CONCLUSIONS: Rigor per se does not cause increases in muscle or liver enzymes activities. Rather these changes are associated with the rigor's causative agent (infectious or not), the patient's general condition and the severity and extent of the underlying disease.

Pseudohyperkalemia in patients with increased cellular components of blood.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a study to investigate the difference between serum and plasma potassium concentration in patients with increase in one or more of the cellular components of blood. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was performed in two phases. During the first phase, we performed a cross-sectional comparison of the difference between serum and plasma potassium concentration (Dk) in 341 patients with the various clinical conditions where pseudohyperkalemia has been described, as well as with secondary or spurious erythrocytosis and in 30 normal controls. A cut-off value of Dk discriminating polycythemia vera from other erythrocytoses was estimated. In the second phase we studied the significance of this cut-off value as predictor of polycythemia vera in 90 naive patients who were referred with an elevated hematocrit. RESULTS: Dk was significantly increased in the groups with platelet, erythrocyte or with a mixed type disorder compared to the controls (P < 0.01). Among these groups, Dk was significantly increased in the groups with thrombocytosis and mixed type disorder, compared to the group with erythrocytosis (both P < 0.01). A cut-off value of Dk discriminating polycythemia vera from other erythrocytoses was estimated (0.70 mmol/L). Dk (> or = 0.70 mmol/L), platelet and white blood cell count were identified as significant independent predictors of polycythemia vera. CONCLUSIONS: The Dk is increased in patients with erythrocytoses, thrombocytoses or both. This phenomenon is more profound in patients with a mixed type disorder, such as polycythemia vera patients, compared to those with erythrocytoses alone.

Cholestasis in acute stroke: an investigation on its prevalence and etiology.

OBJECTIVE: Liver cholestatic enzymes and/or bilirubin occasionally occur in acute stroke and are usually, but not always, ascribed to comorbid conditions. We investigated the frequency and possible etiology of this phenomenon. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective evaluation of post-admission biochemical cholestasis of all patients hospitalized with acute stroke was conducted during a 21-month period. RESULTS: Of 169 consecutive patients, 18 (10.7%) developed cholestasis. In 7 of the patients (4.1%; 4 M, 3 F, median age 70 years, range 57-82 years) no apparent cause of cholestasis could be found, and they were further evaluated (Group A). These patients were compared with 21 randomly selected stroke patients without cholestasis, matched for age and gender, and who acted as controls (Group B). Group A patients were in a deeper coma than the controls (Glasgow Coma Scale 3.4 +/- 0.8 versus 1.9 +/- 0.7, p < 0.001), associated with severe autonomic and hypothalamic involvement, while no such manifestations were present in Group B (p < 0.001). Cholestasis started on the 3rd-6th day and lasted up to the 11th-25th day, with maximum median levels of gamma-GT and serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) of up to 4.38 (range 2.33-8.25) and 1.49 (range 0.63-2.56) times the upper limit of normal, respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), total and direct bilirubin increased in Group A but not in Group B. The common bile duct was significantly wider in Group A than in Group B (7.7 +/- 0.5 versus 4.7 +/- 0.6 mm, p < 0.001) and within Group A during and after cholestasis (7.7 +/- 0.5 versus 4.7 +/- 0.5 mm, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Transient cholestasis may occur in 4.1% of patients following acute stroke. Cholestasis is associated with deeper coma, autonomic and hypothalamic involvement and common bile duct dilatation without obstruction, possibly related to inordinate hypertonia of the sphincter of Oddi.