Objective: Morbid obesity (body mass index (BMI)R40 kg/m 2 ) is associated with thyroid function disturbances, with a high rate of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) being the most consistently reported. We evaluated the circulating thyroid function parameters in morbid obese patients and related the results to the presence of circulating thyroid antibodies (Thyr-Ab). Design and methods: Morbid obese patients were consecutively enrolled (nZ350). Two control groups were used: control group (CG)1, healthy normo-weight subjects (nZ50); CG2, normo-weight patients with SH (nZ56) matched for TSH with the obese patients with SH. Serum levels of free triiodothyronine (FT 3 ), free thyroxine (FT 4 ), TSH, antithyroglobulin antibodies, and antithyroperoxidase antibodies were measured in all patients. Results: i) Compared with CG1, obese patients having thyroid function parameters in the normal range and negative Thyr-Ab showed significantly higher serum TSH and lower free thyroid hormones levels, but a similar FT 4 /FT 3 ratio; ii) SH was recorded in 13.7% obese patients; iii) compared with CG2, obese patients with untreated SH had a significantly lower rate of positive Thyr-Ab (32.1 vs 66.1%; P!0.005); iv) no gender prevalence was observed in SH obese patients with negative Thyr-Ab; and v) the comparison of the untreated SH patients (obese and normo-weight) with CG1 demonstrated that in SH obese subjects, unlike normo-weight SH patients, the FT 3 levels were significantly lower. This resulted in a normal FT 4 /FT 3 ratio in SH obese patients. Conclusion: Thyroid autoimmunity is not a major cause sustaining the high rate of SH in morbid obese patients. In these patients, the diagnosis of SH itself, as assessed by a raised TSH alone, appears questionable.

APA measurement by immunofluorescence may help to predict the occurrence of hypopituitarism but only when considering the immunostaining pattern and their titers. Combined evaluation of these parameters allows identifying patients at higher risk for pituitary autoimmune dysfunction, thus requiring a strict pituitary surveillance to disclose a preclinical phase of hypopituitarism and possibly interrupt therapeutically the progression to clinically overt disease.

ILP represents a valid alternative to surgery also for large benign thyroid nodules, both in terms of nodule size reduction and cure of hyperthyroidism (87% of cured patients after the last ILP cycle). ILP should not be limited to patients refusing or being ineligible for surgery and/or radioiodine.

The PP period is significantly associated with a relapse of hyperthyroidism in GD patients being in remission after ATD. We therefore recommend that patients with GD in remission after a course of ATD should have their thyroid function tested at 3 and 6 months after delivery.

Background: Despite high sensitivity of current assays for autoantibodies to thyroperoxidase (TPO) and to thyroglobulin (Tg), some hypothyroid patients still present with negative tests for circulating anti-thyroid Abs. These patients usually referred to as having seronegative autoimmune thyroiditis (seronegative CAT) have not been characterized, and definite proof that their clinical phenotype is similar to that of patients with classic chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (CAT) is lacking. Objective: To compare the clinical phenotype of seronegative CAT (SN-CAT) and CAT as diagnosed according to a raised serum level of TSH with negative and positive tests for anti-thyroid Abs respectively. Methods: A case-control retrospective study enrolling 55 patients with SN-CAT and 110 patients with CAT was performed. Serum free triiodothyronine (FT 3 ), free thyroxine (FT 4 ), TSH, Tg Abs, and TPO Abs were measured in all patients. Results: Patients with SN-CAT displayed significantly lower mean levels of TSH (6.6G3.4 vs 10.2G9.8 mU/ml; PZ0.009), higher mean FT 4 levels (1.1G0.2 vs 0.9G0.2 ng/dl; PZ0.0002), and similar FT 3 levels when compared with CAT patients. Mean thyroid volume was significantly greater in patients with CAT when compared with SN-CAT patients (11.2G6.5 vs 8.1

The results of the current study would not support a role for the PP period as a major risk factor for de novo occurrence of GD.

A 31-year-old Caucasian male was referred for panhypopituitarism resulting from a surgically removed craniopharyngioma. The patient had been previously submitted to kidney transplantation for end-stage renal disease from X-linked Alport syndrome (ATS). Subsequent quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated a 47,XXY karyotype consistent with Klinefelter syndrome (KS). The relevance of this unique case stems from several issues: 1) KS was an unexpected finding because of a previous diagnosis of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism resulting from craniopharyngioma; 2) the discovery of a de novo p.G406S substitution causing ATS; and 3) the multifactor origin of severe sexual dysfunction. This is the first description of the co-occurrence of KS, ATS, and craniopharyngioma.

These observations do not support the view that PFOA and PFOS are actively concentrated in the thyroid. PFOA and PFOS, however, are both found in surgical and autopsy thyroid specimens. Therefore, further studies to determine if they have disrupting effects in thyroid cells or tissue, and studies to compare populations with and without these compounds in their thyroid glands, are important.