Clinical Research Directory

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Thyroid Hormone Supplementation in Hemodialysis Patients

Hypothyroidism, defined by elevated thyrotropin (TSH) levels, is a common endocrine complication in chronic kidney disease patients, and prior evidence shows that higher TSH levels, even within the normal laboratory range, are strongly associated with impaired quality of life and cardiovascular disease in this population. Levothyroxine is one of the most frequently prescribed medications in chronic kidney disease, yet its efficacy and safety in these patients have not been well-studied. Hence, this study will investigate 1) whether levothyroxine improves patient-centered (e.g., health-related quality of life, physical performance, strength) and 2) cardiovascular (e.g., coronary artery calcification, endothelial function, systolic function) outcomes in dialysis patients, and 3) if thyroid hormone replacement exerts classic metabolic effects (i.e., changes in body fat and resting energy expenditure) in this population.

Eltroxin Administration to Patients With Extremely Low T4 Values in the Intensive Care Unit

Nonthyroidal illness (formerly called sick euthyroid syndrome) is a common condition in patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit, and it is caused by changes in the levels of thyroid hormones in the blood . These changes are correlated to the severity of the critical illness, morbidity and mortality. This condition is characterized by low serum T3 levels, high rT3 levels, normal or low T4 levels, and normal or low TSH levels. Previous studies have shown a relationship between NTIS (nonthyroidal illness) and poor therapeutic outcomes in patients admitted with sepsis, multi trauma, ARDS, acute respiratory failure, septic shock and mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care . In general, the recommendation is not to routinely take blood tests to evaluate thyroid function in critical patients in the intensive care unit, unless they were previously known to have a thyroid disease or there is a clinical suspicion that such a disorder developed during hospitalization in the intensive care unit. Also, studies so far have not shown an advantage for eltroxin administration to intensive care patients with low T3 and/or T4 levels when the laboratory tests indicate NTIS. However, there is a specific group of patients, with NTIS and extremely low T4 levels (less than 50% of the lower limit of the normal range) who have a particularly high mortality rate in intensive care (over 85%) and in whom it has not been investigated whether the administration of eltroxin will improve the therapeutic outcomes ( , i.e. was such a low T4 level in them considered a marker for the severity of their general critical illness, or is it another disorder in itself, the treatment of which would benefit the patient) . We would like to examine whether the administration of eltroxin in this specific group of patients, which has not been studied so far, will be beneficial in improving the therapeutic outcomes

A Prospective Evaluation of Radiofrequency Ablation in the Treatment of Relapsed Graves' Disease.

There have been previous reports of using High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as a feasible thermal ablative treatment for relapsed Graves' disease. In recent years, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has become another promising alternative for thermal ablation of benign thyroid nodules. RFA has the advantage of avoiding a surgical scar, organ preservation and being an ambulatory procedure. It utilizes a small caliber radiofrequency electrode, which is inserted into the thyroid gland percutaneously. The active tip of the RF electrode would induce frictional heat in the surrounding tissue, causing a thermal ablative effect. The direct application of energy of RFA to tissue is different from that in HIFU, in which energy is transmitted through the skin of the participants from the transducer. Studies of follow-up after RFA of Graves' disease have not been published. Given the previous successful experience with HIFU, the investigators would like to explore the feasibility, safety and efficacy of RFA as an alternative thermal ablation option for relapsed Graves' disease. Thus, the purpose of this prospective study is to assess the efficacy and safety of US-guided RFA for the treatment of relapsed Graves' disease.