Vallejo, Sebastián

Abstract Primary thyroid lymphoma is a rare thyroid cancer, comprising ˂5% of thyroid neoplasms. Most cases are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Coexistence with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is extremely rare. This study presents a case of a 55-year-old woman with DLBCL and micropapillary thyroid cancer who underwent lobectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Additionally, we performed a systematic review of 10 cases, including the reported case. The risk of bias in case reports varied. DLBCL diagnoses were mainly made after surgery, with total thyroidectomy being the most common surgical procedure. Chemotherapy was administered in most cases, and radiotherapy was used in some cases. Long-term outcomes indicated a low recurrence rate. While some debate the role of surgery in thyroid lymphoma, this study suggests that surgery should be considered in selected cases. Further research is needed to determine optimal treatment strategies for DLBCL with PTC.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine inpatient health care utilization in an incident cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with the general population. Methods This was a population-based cohort study in the upper Midwest, United States. We included patients fulfilling the European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology SLE classification criteria between 1995 and 2018. They were 1:1 age-, sex-, county-matched with individuals without SLE. All hospital admissions and emergency department (ED) visits were electronically retrieved for 1995–2020. Rates for hospital admission, length of stay, readmission, ED visits, and discharge destination were compared between groups. Results Three hundred forty-one patients with SLE and 341 comparators without SLE were included (mean age, 48.6 years at diagnosis; 79.2% female). Rates of hospitalization for patients with SLE and comparators were 29.8 and 9.9 per 100 person-years, respectively. These differences were present across sexes and age groups. Hospitalization rates were higher in patients with SLE after diagnosis and remained higher than comparators for the first 15 years of the disease. Patients with SLE were more likely than comparators to visit the ED (hazard ratio, 2.71; 95% confidence interval, 2.05–3.59). Readmission rates (32% vs. 21%, p = 0.017) were higher in patients with SLE. Length of stay and discharge destination were similar between both groups. Conclusion Patients with SLE were more likely to be hospitalized and to visit the ED than individuals without SLE, highlighting important inpatient care needs. Increased hospitalization rates were observed in both male and female patients and all age groups.

The introduction of robotics in living donor liver transplantation has been revolutionary. We aimed to examine the safety of robotic living donor right hepatectomy (RLDRH) compared to open (ODRH) and laparoscopic (LADRH) approaches. A systematic review was carried out in Medline and six additional databases following PRISMA guidelines. Data on morbidity, postoperative liver function, and pain in donors and recipients were extracted from studies comparing RLDRH, ODRH, and LADRH published up to September 2020; PROSPERO (CRD42020214313). Dichotomous variables were pooled as risk ratios and continuous variables as weighted mean differences. Four studies with a total of 517 patients were included. In living donors, the postoperative total bilirubin level (MD: −0.7 95%CI −1.0, −0.4), length of hospital stay (MD: −0.8 95%CI −1.4, −0.3), Clavien–Dindo complications I–II (RR: 0.5 95%CI 0.2, 0.9), and pain score at day > 3 (MD: −0.6 95%CI −1.6, 0.4) were lower following RLDRH compared to ODRH. Furthermore, the pain score at day > 3 (MD: −0.4 95%CI −0.8, −0.09) was lower after RLDRH when compared to LADRH. In recipients, the postoperative AST level was lower (MD: −0.5 95%CI −0.9, −0.1) following RLDRH compared to ODRH. Moreover, the length of stay (MD: −6.4 95%CI −11.3, −1.5) was lower after RLDRH when compared to LADRH. In summary, we identified low- to unclear-quality evidence that RLDRH seems to be safe and feasible for adult living donor liver transplantation compared to the conventional approaches. No postoperative deaths were reported.

Abstract Introduction: Optimal initial antithyroid drugs (ATD) dosing may achieve rapid improvement in thyroid hormone levels while minimizing risk of adverse events. As ATD have become the most common first line therapy for the treatment of Graves’ disease (GD), we examined trends over time in initial ATD dosing, and the association between guideline-based ATD dosing with time to normalization of FT4 and frequency of adverse events. Methods: This is a single cohort retrospective study in Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. We identified adults (≥18 years old) diagnosed with new onset GD between January 1, 2002-December 31, 2019 treated with at least 14 days of ATD and with available initial follow up data within 3 months prior to a dose change. Propylthiouracil (PTU) doses were converted to Methimazole (MMI) equivalents at 10:1 ratio. Guideline concordant care was defined as initial ATD dosed based on 2016 American Thyroid Association guidelines (i.e. 5-10 mg for presenting FT4 between >1.7-2.55 ng/dL, 10-20 mg for 2.56-3.40 ng/dL, and 30-40 mg for 3.41 ng/dL and above). Based on the first follow up FT4 values, patients were grouped into categories of: normal range (FT4 0.9-1.7 ng/dL) and under treated (FT4 >1.7 ng/dL). Results: 398 patients were included; mean (SD) age was 49 years (16.6), and 75% were women. Mean initial (SD) Free T4 value was 3.9 ng/dL (2.8), with patients treated with ATD at mean (SD) starting dose of 21.9 mg (13.3) MMI equivalent. Over time there was a decrease in the starting ATD dose from 30 mg MMI equivalent in 2002-2004 to 20 mg in 2017-2019, despite steady presenting FT4 values (2.7 ng/dL in 2002-2005 and 3.1 ng/dL in 2017-2019). In the subset of 340 patients with overt hyperthyroidism, 181 (53%) received guideline concordant (GC) dosing. Patients receiving GC care had a higher initial FT4 (4.9 vs. 3.6 ng/dL, p=0.002), larger goiters (40 vs. 30 g, p<0.001) and higher initial ATD mean dose (SD) 25 mg (15.7) vs. 21.3 mg (9.9), p= 0.05. However at follow up (median 32 days vs 35 days respectively), both groups had similar proportion of patients with normal FT4 values (43% vs. 42%, p=0.79); undertreated patients (45% vs. 45%, p=0.99) and frequency of adverse events (4% vs. 6%, p=0.40). Conclusion: The initial dose of ATD for the treatment of GD has decreased over the past 2 decades. Most clinicians initiate ATD at a dose concordant to guidelines. Despite this, a significant proportion of patients have persistent hyperthyroidism on initial follow up. In light of evidence of risks associated with duration of hyperthyroidism, strategies to improve optimization of initial dosing are needed. Pending further subgroup analysis by presenting FT4 severity, these preliminary results suggest and approach factoring other variables apart from guideline based initial ATD dose is needed to optimize response. Our data will be utilized to pilot an individualized, patient specific predictive model to guide initial dosing to this end.

Abstract Introduction: Anti-thyroid Drugs (ATD) have become the most frequently used treatment for Graves’ disease (GD) in the United States. However, the response to this therapy is variable. Factors that predict biochemically responsive vs. biochemically persistent disease remain unknown. Identifying predictors of disease poorly responsive to ATD can help guide treatment decision making, follow up planning and prognosis. Methods: From a database of patients with GD treated with ATD and receiving care at an academic medical center between 2009–2019, we selected adults with incident GD treated with ≥14 days of ATD. Results: 172 patients (from a database of 730 patients with GD on ATD) were sampled for the purpose of this pilot and 97 of these met inclusion criteria. Patients had a median age of 50 (18–90); female, 70.1%; never smokers, 64.9%; median goiter size of 40 g (15–100); and median TRAb on presentation of 8.1 mIU/L (1.0- 60). Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) was present in 13.4% at baseline. Patients (100%) were started on methimazole at a median dose of 20 mg (2.5–60). The median time from presentation until biochemical improvement (defined as the first instance of FT4 ≤1.7 ng/dL) was 120.9 days (18–1525), and to biochemical euthyroidism (normal TSH & FT4) was 251 days (41–1259) including a median of 3 (0–17) dose adjustments. In a univariate analysis, response to ATD was divided into two groups; biochemically responsive and biochemically persistent disease (based on reaching biochemical improvement in ≤6 months, or >6 months respectively). Biochemically persistent disease was more common in those with GO at presentation (38.5% vs.11.1%) (p .024). There was a trend towards greater prevalence of biochemically persistent disease in those with TRAb ≥ 8.0 mIU/L (46.2% vs. 27.8%) (p .204), and goiter estimated 30 grams or above by physical examination (30.8% vs. 19.4%) (p .460). Biochemically responsive disease was associated with higher frequency of hypothyroidism during treatment (p .047). Conclusion: Our preliminary results illustrate the spectrum of response to ATD and predictors of biochemically persistent disease. We aim to expand this analysis utilizing a large database. As use of ATD increases, clinicians and patients can apply this data to estimate response to therapy, and identify patients that may require more aggressive therapy, thereby tailoring management plans.