[Dysthyroidism after 60 years of age]. / Dysthyroïdies à partir de 60 ans.

This work has been conducted on 162 subjects, aged over 60 years, living in Senegal, investigated in the Departement of Biophysics and Nuclear Medecine of Dakar for suspicion of dysthyroidism. The levels of T3, T4 and TSH US hormones were determined by a radio-immunological method. This technique, exhibiting good functionnal sensitivity and its high specificity, is likely to be beneficial to the diagnosis of dysthyroidisms. Besides, this experiment leads us to consider that the dosage of TSH remains an useful first intention examination for the old patients and could notably improve the screening of dysthyroidisms with a decrease in the cost of the investigation. However, because of the therapeutical implications, some biological profiles schould be interpreted cautiously. The equipment for the determination of the free fractions (T3 and T4) with the brought additional accuracy could allow to dismiss some diagnostci uncertainties.

[Hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus: analysis of 10 African cases]. / Hyperthyroïdie et diabète sucré: analyse de 10 observations africaines.

This retrospective study of 10 patients with hyperthyroidisma and diabetes mellitus concerned 8 women and 2 men, aged from 15 to 77 years. The two disease developed at the same time in 8 cases. Diabetes mellitus occurred first in 2 cases. Common signs were loss of weight. Hyperthyroidism led to tachycardia at more than 100 bpm. Diarrhea was observed simultaneously in 2 cases and muscular weakness in 5. Goiter was found in 10 cases with a diffuse aspect. Graves' disease was diagnosed with exophthalmia in 9 cases and affected both eyes in 8. Elevated levels of thyroid hormones confirmed diagnosis in 8 cases. Diabetes was insulin-dependent in 3 cases and non-insulin dependent in the 7 others. IDDM patients (2 female and 1 male) were aged 15, 17 and 38. Keto acidosis was the first symptom in all cases. NIDDM patients (6 female and 1 male) were aged between 37 and 77.

[Hyperthyroidism in people over 50 years of age in Senegal. Study of 31 cases observed over a 14-year period]. / Hyperthyroïdie après 50 ans en milieu sénégalais. Etude de 31 cas colligés en 14 ans.

PURPOSE: Though common in elderly, with poor and masked symptomatology, hyperthyroidism has never been studied in people older than 50 years of age in African countries. METHODS: Of the 300 cases of hyperthyroidism that were observed during this study, 31 belonged to this category. We analyzed the frequency of various parameters, demographic characteristics, motivation for consulting, thyrotoxic syndrome, non thyrotoxic signs, cardiac manifestations, hormonal and scintigraphic characteristics, etiology and etiologic factors, and treatment. RESULTS: The frequency of hyperthyroidism in this population was 10%. Housewives were more numerous, with 20 cases observed in the 31 patients. The main group (13/31) was of rural origin. Signs that predominantly led to consultation were weight loss (23/31), cervical tumor (17/31), and palpitations (12/31). Three major signs were associated with the thyrotoxic syndrome: weight loss (29 cases), tachycardia (27/31), and the existence of tremors in the extremities (22/31). Hormone assays showed that thyroxine (T4) was about 265 +/- 74 nmol/L and triiodothyronine (T3) about 6 +/- 2 nmol/L, at immunoradiometric assay; thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was about 0.17 +/- 0.23 muIU/mL. Eye protrusion predominated in the nonthyrotoxic syndrome, with 25 cases in the 31 patients. Etiologic forms of the disease were composed of 25 Grave's disease, with 22 typical cases. Etiologic factors were various, however without any case of neoplasia. Cardiac complications included two cases of atrial fibrillation. No iatrogenic form of the disease was observed. Mean initial carbimazole dosage was about 34 +/- 8 mg/d. Of the 23 patients, 15 had a favourable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, the high number of housewives and the patients' rural origin were less characteristic of hyperthyroidism than the Grave's disease etiology. This might be due to the young age of this African population.