Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29271618›Full record

ArticleEndocrinology and metabolism (Seoul, Korea)2017

Detection of Polyethylene Glycol Thyrotropin (TSH) Precipitable Percentage (Macro-TSH) in Patients with a History of Thyroid Cancer.

Massimo Giusti, Lucia Conte, Anna Maria Repetto, Stefano Gay, Paola Marroni, Miranda Mittica, Michele Mussap

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Endocrinology and metabolism (Seoul, Korea), 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Massimo GiustiDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. magius@unige.it.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1269-8376
Lucia ConteEndocrine Unit, San Martino University Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Anna Maria RepettoLaboratory Analysis Unit, San Martino University Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Stefano GayEndocrine Unit, San Martino University Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Paola MarroniLaboratory Analysis Unit, San Martino University Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
Miranda MitticaDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Michele MussapLaboratory Analysis Unit, San Martino University Hospital, Genoa, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOwing to its large molecular size, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-precipitable thyrotropin (TSH) can accumulate in the circulation, elevating TSH levels. PEG-precipitable TSH can be used to detect macro-TSH (mTSH) in serum. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of mTSH in patients who had undergone thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer.

methodsSeventy-three thyroid cancer patients and 24 control subjects on levothyroxine (LT4) TSH-suppressive or replacement therapy were evaluated. Screening for mTSH was performed by adding PEG to serum in order to precipitate γ-globulin. A percentage of PEG-precipitable TSH ≥80% was considered suggestive of mTSH.

resultsNo correlation between free-T4 (fT4) and TSH levels was found. PEG-precipitable TSH was 39.3%±1.9% in thyroid cancer patients and 44.1%±3.9% in controls. Macro-TSH was deemed to be present in one thyroid cancer patient and in two control subjects. Only in the thyroid cancer group was PEG-precipitable TSH found to be negatively correlated with fT4 concentration. No correlation was found between PEG-precipitable TSH and other clinical conditions in any patients.

conclusionThe presence of mTSH seems to be a rare phenomenon in thyroid cancer. In some patients with low PEG-precipitable TSH, a reduction in LT4 dosage could be suggested. LT4 dosage adjusted to body weight is the main factor in maintaining TSH in a semi-suppressed or normal range. Evaluation of mTSH could be necessary in patients in whom a balance is required between adequate TSH suppression and the avoidance of unnecessary exogenous hyperthyroxinemia.

Indexed as

Levothyroxine-posologyMacro-thyrotropinPolyethylene glycol-precipitable thyrotropinThyroid neoplasmsThyrotropin

Identifiers

PMID29271618
PMCPMC5744732

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