Churg-Strauss Syndrome following PTU Treatment

Propylthiouracil-Induced Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Vasculitis Presenting with Red Eye Followed by Pulmonary Hemorrhage: Diagnostic and Management Considerations

Patient: Female, 34-year-old

Final Diagnosis: Vascuitis

Symptoms: Hemoptysis

Medication:—

Clinical Procedure: —

Specialty: Rheumatology

Antithyroid Arthritis Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

We herein report the case of a 38-year-old Japanese woman with antithyroid arthritis syndrome who experienced severe migratory polyarthritis after the initiation of thiamazole therapy. The patient's symptoms promptly disappeared without any sequelae after the withdrawal of the drug. Antithyroid arthritis syndrome is poorly characterized, and the findings from our literature review indicate that this syndrome exhibits serological features that are distinct from those of antithyroid agent-induced vasculitis syndrome. The absence of autoantibodies, especially anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, may help characterize and diagnose antithyroid arthritis syndrome. Furthermore, physicians' awareness of this syndrome is essential for its diagnosis in clinical practice.

ANCA Associated Vasculitis and Renal Failure Related to Propylthiouracil and Hyperthyroidism Induced Cholestasis in the Same Case

Introduction. Liver involvement due to hyperthyroidism and also ANCA positive vasculitis related renal failure cases were reported separately several times before. However, to our knowledge, these two complications together in the same case had never been observed before. Case Presentation. The case of an ANCA positive 71-year-old Caucasian male with renal failure and lung involvement, subclinical hyperthyroidism, and intrahepatic cholestatic jaundice was presented in this paper. After exclusion of all of the other possibilities, cholestatic hepatitis was explained by subclinical hyperthyroidism; renal failure and lung involvement were interpreted as ANCA related vasculitis which might be a side effect of propylthiouracil use. Conclusion. The coexistence of these rare conditions in the same patient deserves emphasis and it is worth reporting. This case demonstrates that following the clinical course of the patient is essential after prescribing any medications to see whether any complication occurs or not. If the complications of this case were noticed earlier, it would be possible to treat and to prevent the permanent damages.

PTU-induced ANCA-positive vasculitis: an innocent or a life-threatening adverse effect?

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitides are rare, but they can be triggered by chemicals, infections and drugs; among them, antithyroid drugs are common. Autoimmune disorders, such as vasculitis, are unusual, but serious complications of antithyroid therapy. Both propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole may induce ANCA-associated vasculitis. PTU-induced vasculitides may have different organ involvement patterns. Herein, we report four cases with ANCA-associated vasculitis with different clinical manifestations.

Concurrent Graves' disease and intracranial arterial stenosis/occlusion: special considerations regarding the state of thyroid function, etiology, and treatment

Several studies have shown the relation between Graves' disease and stenosis/occlusion of intracranial arteries. To our knowledge, only 31 cases, including our case, of concurrent Graves' disease and moyamoya syndrome or intracranial arterial stenosis/occlusion have been described. The patients were predominantly women, and their ages ranged from 10 to 54 years (mean, 29.3 years). Transient ischemic attacks and cerebral infarction were the common symptoms in these patients. Except one previous case and the present case, all cases showed thyrotoxicity when the cerebral ischemic event occurred. Among the 29 cases, in which the treatment regimen was known, antithyroid therapy was administered in 25 cases, and surgical treatment for cerebral vessel diseases was performed in 11 cases. Most of the patients eventually recovered from the neurological symptoms after medical and/or surgical treatment; one of the patients died, and one patient's condition worsened. Although the mechanism underlying intracranial arterial occlusion or stenosis in patients with Graves' disease has not been elucidated, several hypotheses have been described. Thyroid hormones may augment vascular sensitivity to the sympathetic nervous system and induce pathological changes in the arterial walls. An immune-mediated mechanism may play a role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Atherosclerosis may be associated with these disorders. Vasculitis induced by antithyroid drugs may cause changes in the intracranial arteries. Finally, the possibility of a mere coincidence of Graves' disease and these vascular changes should also be considered. Cerebrovascular hemodynamic changes induced by thyrotoxicosis were considered to be responsible for the cerebral ischemic events. Excessive thyroid hormone production is considered to increase the cerebral metabolism and oxygen consumption. In addition, thyrotoxicosis-induced hypercoagulability may influence ischemic events. Therefore, the possibility of thyrotoxicosis should be considered when patients with Graves' disease show exacerbation of cerebral ischemic symptoms at follow-up. The necessity of surgery in addition to antithyroid therapy might be dependent on the mechanisms of the vascular changes and symptoms. If hyperthyroidism is associated with vascular changes and symptoms, antithyroid therapy may be adequate. However, if immune-mediated mechanisms or coincidences are considered to be associated with vascular changes and symptoms, like our case, surgical procedures might be needed.