Treatment of pretibial myxedema with intralesional immunomodulating therapy

Bilateral breast myxedema caused by Graves' disease and responsive to multipoint subcutaneous injection of long-acting glucocorticoid: Case report

RATIONALE

With the absence of ophthalmopathy, thyroid dermopathy especially lesions at atypical locations is a very rare presentation. We herein report an original case of bilateral breast myxedema caused by Grave's disease.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 21-year-old unmarried woman presented with a 4-month history of Grave's disease and a 1-month history of progressive bilateral breast enlargement. She had symmetrical bilateral breast enlargement with redness and nonpitting thickening of the skin, diffusely enlarged thyroid glands, and no exophthalmos.

DIAGNOSIS

Ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging scan, and skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral breast myxedema.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient was treated with multipoint subcutaneous injections of triamcinolone acetonide in each breast every month.

OUTCOMES

The bilateral breast returned approximately to its normal size after therapy for 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Our case illustrates that multipoint subcutaneous injection of glucocorticoids is beneficial for bilateral breast myxedema.

Association between serum TSH levels and metabolic components in euthyroid subjects: a nationwide population-based study

BACKGROUND

Whether a relationship exists between various metabolic factors and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in euthyroid persons remains unknown. This study aims to explore the relationship between TSH levels and metabolic factors in euthyroid individuals.

METHODS

A total of 2,663 subjects were enrolled from a nationwide population-based cross-sectional survey of iodine nutrition, thyroid disease and diabetes in China (2014-2017). Euthyroid individuals were divided into four groups according to quartiles of TSH levels: group A (n=305, 0.3-1.3 mIU/L), group B (n=829, 1.3-2.2 mIU/L), group C (n=673, 2.2-3.2 mIU/L) and group D (n=349, 3.2-4.2 mIU/L). Anthropometric parameters, biochemical indicators and TSH levels were determined.

RESULTS

A total of 2,156 euthyroid subjects with serum TSH levels within the normal range accounted for 86.8% of the sample. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) in group D was significantly higher than that in the other three groups. Group C displayed significantly lower thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) levels than the other three groups. Group C also had lower anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) levels than groups A and D, whereas the TgAb levels in group B were only lower than those in group A. Spearman's or Pearson's linear regression analysis showed that SBP (r=0.054; P=0.013) was positively correlated with TSH, but cholesterol (TC) (r=-0.043, P=0.047) was negatively correlated with TSH. Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that SBP, the urinary iodine concentration (UIC), waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), TC, triglycerides (TGs) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were independent predictors of serum TSH levels.

CONCLUSION

This large population-based study demonstrates a significant interaction between metabolic factors and TSH levels. An adverse weight status, high blood pressure levels, blood lipid metabolism disorder and excessive iodine intake may be early manifestations of thyroid disease in euthyroid subjects.

Intralesional and topical glucocorticoids for pretibial myxedema: A case report and review of literature

Pretibial myxedema (PTM), an uncommon manifestation of Graves’ disease (GD), is a local autoimmune reaction in the cutaneous tissue. The treatment of PTM is a clinical challenge. We herein report on a patient with PTM who achieved complete remission by multipoint subcutaneous injections of a long-acting glucocorticoid and topical glucocorticoid ointment application for a self-controlled study. A 53-year-old male presented with a history of GD for 3.5 years and a history of PTM for 1.5 years. Physical examination revealed slight exophthalmos, a diffusely enlarged thyroid gland, and PTM of both lower extremities. One milliliter of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg) was mixed well with 9 mL of 2% lidocaine in a 10 mL syringe. Multipoint intralesional injections into the skin lesions of the right lower extremity were conducted with 0.5 mL of the premixed solution. A halometasone ointment was used once daily for PTM of the left lower extremity until the PTM had remitted completely. The patient’s PTM achieved complete remission in both legs after an approximately 5-mo period of therpy that included triamcinolone injections once a week for 8 wk and then once a month for 2 mo for the right lower extremity and halometasone ointment application once daily for 8 wk and then once 3-5 d for 2 mo for the left lower extremity. The total dosage of triamcinolone acetonide for the right leg was 200 mg. Our experience with this patient suggests that multipoint subcutaneous injections of a long-acting glucocorticoid and topical glucocorticoid ointment application are safe, effective, and convenient treatments. However, the topical application of a glucocorticoid ointment is a more convenient treatment for patients with PTM.