Research Articles (Endocrinology)

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    Prevalence and aetiology of thyrotoxicosis in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum presenting to a tertiary hospital in Cape Town, South Africa
    (AJOL, 2021-08-31) Van der Made, T; Van der Vyver, M; Conradie-Smit, M; Conradie, Magda
    Background: The association between hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and abnormal thyroid function is well known. Aims: The prevalence, aetiology and course of thyrotoxicosis in women with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) were studied. Methods: Women admitted for HG, who underwent thyroid function evaluation between 1 August 2016 and 30 April 2019, were studied. Laboratory data included baseline human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and baseline (t1), discharge (t2) and follow-up (t3) thyroid function tests (thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] and free thyroxin [fT4]). Available TSH receptor antibody status was assessed. Results: Eighty-two patients were included. The incidence of thyrotoxicosis was 49% based on local laboratory TSH range and 48% if trimester-specific ranges used. In the majority of normal pregnancies, thyrotoxicosis was hCG-mediated (72.5%), 15% were confirmed to have Graves’ disease and 12% had a molar pregnancy. Very high fT4 levels (> 40 pmol/l) at baseline [t1] were documented in 24% of women with hCG-mediated thyrotoxicosis. Clinical features were absent in a third of women with Graves’ disease and the diagnosis was reliant on positive antibody status. Free T4 values declined from (t1) to later in gestation (t3) (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The incidence of thyrotoxicosis in women with HG is high. Free-T4 values decrease with clinical stabilisation of HG, suggesting a contribution of dehydration to the large variation in baseline fT4 measurements. Testing for TSH-receptor antibodies should be considered in women with TSH < 0.01 pmol/l and persistent fT4 elevation on follow-up. Final review of thyroid function should be performed after 15 weeks’ gestation.
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    Thyrotoxicosis secondary to thyroiditis following SARS-CoV-2 infection
    (AJOL, 2022-10) Coetzee, A; Bhikoo, R; Berndorfler, B; Conradie, W; Taljaard, JJ; Conradie-Smit, M
    Subacute thyroiditis is a granulomatous inflammatory disorder often triggered by a preceding viral infection. Patients typically present with complaints of anterior neck pain associated with a tender enlarged thyroid gland. The coronaviruses have never before been implicated in the aetiology of subacute thyroiditis. It is postulated that the pathogenesis related to thyroid disease in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is multifactorial. Contributory factors include effects of the virus-related cytokine storm and direct action of the virus on SARS-CoV-2 receptors in the thyroid. This article further reviews the association between thyroiditis and COVID-19. The clinical characteristics, diagnostic workup and management of a patient who presented with subacute thyroiditis following COVID-19 are discussed. Furthermore, complications are entertained and suggestions for the management of thyroiditis following COVID-19 are provided.
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    Clinical practice recommendations for the detection and management of hyperglycemia in pregnancy from South Asia, Africa and Mexico during COVID‑19 pandemic
    (Wolters Kluwer, 2021-12) Priya, Gagan; Bajaj, Sarita; Kalra, Bharti; Coetzee, Ankia; Kalra, Sanjay; Dutta, Deep; Lim, Vivien; Diwakar, Hema; Deshmukh, Vaishali; Mehta, Roopa; Sahay, Rakesh; Gupta, Yashdeep; Sharma, J. B.; Dasgupta, Arundhati; Patnala, S.; Afsana, Faria; Giri, Mimi; Sheikh, Aisha; Baruah, Manash P.; Asirvatham, A. R.; Sheikh, Shehla; Cooray, Samanthi; Acharya, Kirtida; Langi, Y. A.; Jacob, Jubbin J.; Malhotra, Jaideep; George, Belinda; Grewal, Emmy; Chandrasekharan, Sruti; Nadeem, Sarah; Lamptey, Roberta; Khandelwal, Deepak
    The human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic has affected overall healthcare delivery, including prenatal, antenatal and postnatal care. Hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HIP) is the most common medical condition encountered during pregnancy. There is little guidance for primary care physicians for providing delivery of optimal perinatal care while minimizing the risk of COVID‑19 infection in pregnant women. This review aims to describe pragmatic modifications in the screening, detection and management of HIP during the COVID‑ 19 pandemic. In this review, articles published up to June 2021 were searched on multiple databases, including PubMed, Medline, EMBASE and ScienceDirect. Direct online searches were conducted to identify national and international guidelines. Search criteria included terms to extract articles describing HIP with and/or without COVID‑19 between 1st March 2020 and 15th June 2021. Fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and random plasma glucose could be alternative screening strategies for gestational diabetes mellitus screening (at 24–28 weeks of gestation), instead of the traditional 2 h oral glucose tolerance test. The use of telemedicine for the management of HIP is recommended. Hospital visits should be scheduled to coincide with obstetric and ultrasound visits. COVID‑19 infected pregnant women with HIP need enhanced maternal and fetal vigilance, optimal diabetes care and psychological support in addition to supportive measures. This article presents pragmatic options and approaches for primary care physicians, diabetes care providers and obstetricians for GDM screening, diagnosis and management during the pandemic, to be used in conjunction with routine antenatal care.
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    Evidence to support the classification of hyperglycemia first detected in pregnancy to predict diabetes 6–12 weeks postpartum : a single center cohort study
    (Elsevier, 2020-09) Coetzee, Ankia; Sadhai, Nishendra; Mason, Deidre; Hall, David R.; Conradie, Magda
    Aims: Diagnostic criteria for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) applied to women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) may predict postpartum T2DM but requires validation. Methods: Women with GDM aged ≥ 18-years were prospectively evaluated 6–12 weeks after delivery at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South-Africa (November 2015- December 2018). Glucose status at GDM diagnosis was categorized into i) International Association for Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG) T2DM (fasting glucose ≥ 7 mmol/L and/or 2hr-glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/L) or ii) modified National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) GDM (fasting glucose ≥ 5.6 mmol/L-6.9 mmol/L and/or 2hr-glucose ≥ 7.8 mmol/L-11 mmol/L) and compared with postpartum OGTT. Results: IADPSG T2DM and NICE GDM was present in 35% (n = 64) and 65% (n = 117) of the 181 women who completed the 8 ± 2 weeks postpartum evaluation respectively. Postpartum, the prevalence of T2DM and prediabetes was 26% (n = 47/181) and 15% (n = 28). Antenatal IADPSG T2DM categorization identified 31/47 women with postpartum T2DM (sensitivity 75%; specificity 48%). All of the modified NICE GDM category women who developed T2DM (n = 16/117) had elevations of both fasting and 2hr-glucose values antenatally. Conclusion: The utility of the IADPSG T2DM criteria to predict T2DM postpartum is confirmed. Women with both fasting and 2hr-glucose values above GDM cut-offs emerged as another high-risk category.
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    Diabetes mellitus and COVID-19 : a review and management guidance for South Africa
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2020-08) Coetzee, A.; Taljaard, J. J.; Hugo, S. S.; Conradie, M.; Conradie-Smit, M.; Dave, J. A.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This article reviews the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and COVID-19. We report on the convergence of infectious diseases such as coronavirus infections and non-communicable diseases including DM. The mechanisms for the interaction between COVID-19 and DM are explored, and suggestions for the management of DM in patients with COVID-19 in South Africa are offered.