PTU-associated vasculitis in a girl with Turner Syndrome and Graves' disease

Rash and cholestatic liver injury caused by methimazole in a woman with Turner syndrome and Graves's disease: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Rash and cholestatic liver injury caused by methimazole (MMI) in patients with Turner syndrome (TS) and Graves's disease (GD) are rarely reported, and there is a paucity of reports on the management of this condition. It is not clear whether propylthiouracil (PTU) can be used as a safe alternative in this case.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 37-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with rash, severe pruritus and a change in urine colour after 2 months of GD treatment with MMI. Physical examination showed rash scattered over the limbs and torso, mild jaundice of the sclera and skin, short stature, facial moles, immature external genitals and diffuse thyroid gland enlargement. Liver function tests indicated an increase in total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total bile acid, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase. The level of sex hormones suggested female hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. The karyotype of peripheral blood was 46, X, i(X)(q10)/45, X. After excluding biliary obstruction and other common causes of liver injury, combined with rash and abnormal liver function following oral administration of MMI, the patient was diagnosed as having TS with GD and rash and cholestatic liver injury caused by MMI. MMI was immediately discontinued, and eleven days after treatment with antihistamine and hepatoprotective agents was initiated, the rash subsided, and liver function returned to nearly normal. Because the patient did not consent to administration of ¹³¹I or thyroid surgery, hyperthyroidism was successfully controlled with PTU. No adverse drug reactions were observed after switching to PTU.

CONCLUSIONS

While patients with TS and GD are undergoing treatment with MMI, their clinical manifestations, liver functions, and other routine blood test results should be closely monitored. When patients with TS and GD manifest adverse reactions to MMI such as rash and cholestatic liver injury, it is necessary to discontinue MMI and treat with antihistamine and hepatoprotective agents. After the rash subsides and liver function returns to nearly normal, PTU can effectively control hyperthyroidism without adverse drug reactions.

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Graves' Disease in Genetic Syndromes in Pediatric Age

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and Graves’ disease (GD), are the most common cause of acquired thyroid disorder during childhood and adolescence. Our purpose was to assess the main features of AITDs when they occur in association with genetic syndromes. We conducted a systematic review of the literature, covering the last 20 years, through MEDLINE via PubMed and EMBASE databases, in order to identify studies focused on the relation between AITDs and genetic syndromes in children and adolescents. From the 1654 references initially identified, 90 articles were selected for our final evaluation. Turner syndrome, Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, Noonan syndrome, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Prader–Willi syndrome, Williams syndrome and 18q deletion syndrome were evaluated. Our analysis confirmed that AITDs show peculiar phenotypic patterns when they occur in association with some genetic disorders, especially chromosomopathies. To improve clinical practice and healthcare in children and adolescents with genetic syndromes, an accurate screening and monitoring of thyroid function and autoimmunity should be performed. Furthermore, maintaining adequate thyroid hormone levels is important to avoid aggravating growth and cognitive deficits that are not infrequently present in the syndromes analyzed.

Propylthiouracil-Associated Leukocytoclastic Necrotizing Cutaneous Vasculitis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

The purpose of this case report and review of the literature is to provide an exploration of the clinical symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, and management of propylthiouracil (PTU)-associated vasculitis in the intensive care setting. A PubMed search of the available literature was conducted using the MeSH search terms "propylthiouracil" and "vasculitis." The literature search returned 121 articles. Twenty-five were excluded because they were not in English. Fifty-nine case reports or case studies describing PTU-associated vasculitis were included. Data extracted from each case study included patient age, sex, autoimmune markers, laboratory tests, length of time on PTU, treatment for vasculitis, and patient outcomes. The authors reviewed 128 cases of PTU-associated vasculitis. The majority were women (8.8:1 F:M ratio), and the most common presenting symptoms were rash (51.6%), fever (46.9%), and arthralgia (43.8%). In addition to discontinuing PTU, the most common treatment was steroids (71.9%). Eight patients (6.3%) progressed to end-stage renal disease; two (1.6%) required intubation for respiratory failure; and five (3.9%) died of various organ systems failure related to vasculitis development. A high index of suspicion for vasculitis should be maintained, especially when presented with skin manifestations in the presence of PTU therapy. Screening with myeloperoxidase-antinuclear cytoplasmic antibodies is most sensitive. Positive screening should prompt a thorough clinical investigation. In cases of severe skin manifestations, the focus should be on aggressive wound care. Our case report is unique, not only in the size and extent of cutaneous involvement, but also as the first description of mortality secondary to cutaneous manifestations.