OBJECTIVE: To establish a normal range of values for thyroid volume among adult Filipinos and to correlate thyroid dimensions with age, sex, weight, height, and urinary iodine.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital. Out of 212 health personnel screened, 169 were included based on the following exclusion criteria: goiter stage Ib to III as defined by WHO, hyperthyroid or hypothyroid, hospitalization within the past month, chronic renal disease, chronic alcohol intake, more than 4 pack years of smoking, and abnormal laboratory profile. Laboratory parameters included FT3, FT4, TSH, creatinine, anti-thyroglobulin, anti-thyroid peroxidase, 24-hr urinary iodine , and thyroid ultrasonography. There were 55 males and 114 females with a mean age of 38.98 +/- 11.21 years old, mean weight of 59.84 +/- 11.91 kg.
RESULTS: The size of the right lobe ranged from 3.58-5.09 x 1.15-1.89 x 1.01-1.90 cm (LxWxD) while the left lobe ranged from 3.62-5.01 x 1.15-1.93 x 1.03-1.84, comparable with established values in literature. Using Hotelling's T-squared, male sex was associated with a larger thyroid dimension, (p-value <0.01) There was no statistically significant relationship between thyroid dimension and urinary iodide level. (Pillai's Trace p=0.88, Wilk's Lambda p=0.88, Hotteling's Trace p=0.88, Roy's Largest Root p=0.57). In general, thyroid dimensions were significantly correlated with the demographic variables using canonical correlation (0.5431, p=0.0232).
CONCLUSIONS: The normative thyroid dimensions established among Filipino adults were comparable with the accepted reference values. Thyroid dimensions were significantly correlated with weight, height, and sex but not with urinary iodide levels.

Thyroid Gland ; Body Weight ; Body Height ; Gender Identity ; Reference Values ; Cross-sectional Studies ; Iodine ; Urine ; Creatinine ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Most characteristics and common signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism are the effects of thyroid  hormones  on  the heart and cardiovascular system. With the advent of echocardiography, characterizing the effects of  hyperthyroidism on the heart has been described mainly for overt hyperthyroidism. Data on subclinical hyperthyroidism  are still conflicting.
OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare the cardiac morphology and function of Filipino patients with uncontrolled overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism through echocardiogram, admitted at De La Salle University Medical Center (DLSUMC) for a period  of  five years and six months. 
METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective descriptive study that utilized review of medical records. Seventy-five  hyperthyroid patients were included; 56%  with overt hyperthyroidism and 44% with subclinical hyperthyroidism. Cardiac morphology and systolic and diastolic functions were determined in the population and compared  between overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism using 2-dimensional echocardiogram.  
RESULTS: Cardiac morphology was slightly  compromised due to slight thickening of interventricular septum (IVSTd) and left ventricular posterior wall thickness at diastole (LVPWTd). There was also an increase in left ventricular mass (LVM), more pronounced in overt hyperthyroidism. Systolic function parameters such as fractional shortening (FS) and ejection fraction (EF) were normal. Impaired left ventricular myocardial relaxation manifested as low early mitral peak flow velocity, low E/A ratio and prolonged isovolumetricrelaxation time (IVRT) was observed in most patients, particularly in overt hyperthyroidism.
CONCLUSION: Abnormalities noted were comparable between the two groups of hyperthyroidism. With cardiac  parameters affected even in subclinical hyperthyroidism, treatment might be indicated regardless if hyperthyroidism is  overt or subclinical.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged 80 And Over ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Academic Medical Centers ; Diastole ; Echocardiography ; Heart ; Hyperthyroidism ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Systole

Preoperative preparation of the hyperthyroid patient for thyroidectomy is imperative to avoid perioperative complications due to severe thyrotoxicosis. The mainstay of preparation is the administration of anti-thyroid drugs (ATD). When ATDs cause adverse reactions, an alternative regimen to prepare the patient for definitive management is crucial. We present the case of a 35-year-old Filipino female with Graves’ disease who developed methimazole-induced agranulocytosis. She refused to undergo radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. She was admitted for thyroidectomy with elevated thyroid hormone levels. She was rapidly prepared for thyroidectomy using high-dose steroid, beta-adrenergic blocker, propylthiouracil (PTU) and Lugol’s solution. The patient’s free thyroxine level decreased after 8 days of treatment, without complications. She then underwent an uneventful subtotal thyroidectomy. In conditions with very limited options, although contraindicated, administration of another ATD may be the last alternative for patients who developed agranulocytosis.
Hyperthyroidism ; Thyroidectomy ; Agranulocytosis ; Iodine