Thyrotoxicosis in Ethiopian patients--a prospective study

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Thyrotoxicosis, a condition of excess thyroid hormones, presents with diverse etiologies and clinical manifestations.
• Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of different thyrotoxicosis types is crucial for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical features, demographics, and outcomes of thyrotoxicosis patients.
• To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of common treatments for thyrotoxicosis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 46 consecutive thyrotoxicosis cases over two years.
• Data collection included patient demographics, etiological diagnosis, clinical symptoms, physical signs, and treatment modalities.

Main Results:

• Graves' disease (22 cases) and toxic multinodular goitre (19 cases) were the most common diagnoses.
• Key symptoms included sweating/heat intolerance, weight loss, and palpitations; common signs were goitre and tachycardia.
• Antithyroid drugs (propylthiouracil, carbimazole) were effective, with rare adverse events (granulocytopenia, skin allergy); surgery was also utilized.

Conclusions:

• Thyrotoxicosis management involves diverse treatments, with antithyroid drugs showing good efficacy and tolerability.
• Graves' disease and toxic multinodular goitre are prevalent, requiring tailored therapeutic approaches.