Clinical spectrum and various forms of thyrotoxcosis in endocrine clinic of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical symptoms, signs and various forms of thyrotoxicosis, and to assess the thyroid function status at the first 6-week follow-up.

METHODS: The retrospective chart review involved thyrotoxic patients presenting at the Endocrine Clinic of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, between April 2007 and January 2011. All hyperthyroid patients were included with the exception of those with suspected or proven malignancy. The records were maintained on a structured proforma and analysed statistically to work out frequencies and percentages.

RESULTS: A total of 507 patients were included. Most common form of thyrotoxicosis was Graves' disease, with diffuse toxic goiter affecting 269 (53%) patients; followed by toxic multinodular goiter in 102 (20.1%); solitary toxic nodule in 56 (11%); thyrotoxicosis without goiter in 44 (8.7%); subclinical hyperthyroidism in 22 (4.3.%); thyroiditis in 9 (1.8%); and thyrotoxicosis with solitary cold nodule in 4 (0.9%). The common presenting symptoms and signs were goiter (n=415; 85.7%), with eye signs present in 137 (27.7%) patients and heart failure in 20 (4.8%) patients. Of the 321 patients who attended the first six-week follow-up, 309 (94.4%) had their FT4 levels checked. Out of them, 130(42.1%) had euthyroid levels; 113 (36.6%) had lower but still toxic level; 36 (11.7%) had no change; and 30 (9.7%) became hypothyroid. TSH levels at first follow-up remained suppressed in 211 (73%) patients; normal in 47 (16.3%); and increased in 31 (10.7%).

CONCLUSIONS: Graves' disease was found to be the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. At first follow-up 10.4% of patients had become hypothyroid. Therefore the starting dose of antithyroid drugs was reduced in the clinic. Thyroid stimulating hormone assay was of little help in adjusting treatment at the 6-week follow-up, as almost all cases of hypothyroidism could have been picked up on FT4 assay alone.