No abstract

The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D is significantly high among Saudi population, especially among women, despite abundant sunshine. It is a major public health concern and requires a robust health policy for vitamin D supplementation and implementation of dietary public health measures. Vitamin D screening is strongly recommended at an earlier age especially among women and children.

A clear relationship between vitamin D status and the clinical indices of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) severity has not been convincingly established. We proposed that such a relationship might exist, in so far as vitamin D deficiency could contribute to the severity of metabolic bone disease and promote the growth of the parathyroid tumor. Accordingly, we undertook a retrospective study and analyzed the clinical, biochemical, radiological and histopathological findings in a group of 49 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy at our center. Patients who had skeletal X-rays were grouped, according to their X-ray findings, in group A (19 patients; 45%) if they had severe bone changes, or group B (23 patients; 55%) if they had mild or no bone changes. Patients were also stratified according to their 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels in tertiles. The 2 groups were compared using Fisher's exact test or analysis of variance as appropriate. Group A patients were younger (p=0.001), had more musculoskeletal symptoms (p=0.0003), and complained more frequently of fatigue (p=0.02). They had higher alkaline phosphatase (AP; p=0.0002), PTH index (p=0.0007), and serum Ca level (p=0.006). There were more patients from the lower and middle vitamin D tertiles and fewer patients from the upper vitamin D tertile in group A (p=0.02). Post-operative severe hypo-calcemia was more prevalent in group A patients (p<0.0001). Resected parathyroid tumors were larger in size in group A patients (p=0.01), and weighed more (p=0.01). There was a positive correlation between the weight of the parathyroid tumor and the PTH index (p=0.002), and AP level (p=0.0007). We concluded that vitamin D deficiency is a contributing factor to both the severity of bone disease and the high activity of parathyroid tumors seen in many patients with pHPT in vitamin D deficient regions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESTo provide guidelines for medical professionals in Saudi Arabia regarding osteoporosis.DESIGN AND SETTINGSA panel of 14 local experts in osteoporosis assembled to provide consensus based on the strength of evidence and expert opinions on osteoporosis treatment.PATIENTS AND METHODSThe Saudi Osteoporosis Society (SOS) formed a panel of experts who performed an extensive published studies search to formulate recommendations regarding prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia. Both local and international published studies were utilized whenever available.RESULTSDual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning is still the golden standard for assessing bone mineral density (BMD). In the absence of local, country-specific fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX), the SOS recommends using the USA (White) version of the FRAX tool. All women above 60 years of age should be evaluated for BMD. This is because the panel recognized that osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures occur at a younger age in Saudi Arabia. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not recommended for treating postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. BMD evaluation should be performed 1–2 years after initiating intervention, and the assessment of bone turnover biomarkers should be performed whenever available to determine the efficacy of intervention.CONCLUSIONAll Saudi women above the age of 60 years must undergo a BMD assessment using DXA. Therapy decisions should be formulated with the use of the USA (White) version of the FRAX tool.

This is the first study of the clinical management of prolactinomas in the MENA region. Some of the practices are not in line with the latest Endocrine and Pituitary Societies guidelines. These warrant further discussions of contemporary guidelines in regional forums.

Gene copy number analysis by MLPA should be considered in patients with negative conventional mutation screening. Although large MEN1 deletion causes MEN1, disruption of imprinted CDKN1C/p57KIP2 and IGF-2 gene expression may contribute to tumour progression and aggressive phenotype.

In the management of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), surgery is indicated for locoregional recurrent/persistent disease. In this study, we examined the effect of such surgery on serum TG and the course of the disease in 21 patients with PTC (mean age 38.5 yr), who after the initial surgery and radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation developed high TG (>10 ng/ml) and negative 123I whole body scan (DxWBS). All patients had neck persistent/recurrent PTC that was confirmed by ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration. Prior to neck re-exploration, radiological studies (chest X-rays, CT scan of the chest, and fluoro-18-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography [FDG-PET]) showed no evidence of distant metastases. TG autoantibodies were negative in 19 patients. Second surgery consisted of unilateral (13 patients) or bilateral (8 patients) modified neck dissection. The mean+/-SE TG prior to neck re-exploration was 184.8+/-79.0 ng/ml and declined after surgery to 127.5+/-59.0 ng/ml (p=0.25). The corresponding TSH values were 150.6+/-23.0 and 143.4+/-20.0 mU/l, respectively (p=0.34). After a mean follow-up of 20.7+/-3 months, TG increased to 168+/-68.0 ng/ml. This increase, however, was NS (p=0.67). The corresponding TSH values were 143.4+/-20.0 and 132.0+/-22.0 mU/l (p=0.27). Following second surgery, only 4 patients achieved remission, the other 17 patients received one or more of the following therapies; RAI (10 patients), third surgery (5 patients), and/or external radiation (7 patients). Thirteen patients continued to have persistent disease and 4 patients showed progressive course of their disease (distant metastases or grossly palpable neck disease). In conclusion, second surgery for recurrent/persistent PTC leads to remission in only a minority of cases but the course of the disease tends to be stable in most cases.

Biallelic c.6725G>A (p.R2223H) mutation causes Tg retention in the endoplasmic reticulum, resulting in dyshormonogenesis. Prolonged TSH stimulation may promote malignant transformation and development of thyroid cancer. The c.6396C>T (p.S2113L) is a novel polymorphism.