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Chapter 38: Thyroid & Antithyroid Drugs
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A 24-year-old woman was found to have mild hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease. She appears to be in good health otherwise.
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In Graves’ disease, the cause of the hyperthyroidism is the production of an antibody that does which of the following?
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(A) Activates the pituitary thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) receptor and stimulates TSH release
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(B) Activates the thyroid gland TSH receptor and stimulates thyroid hormone synthesis and release
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(C) Activates thyroid hormone receptors in peripheral tissues
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(D) Binds to thyroid gland thyroglobulin and accelerates its proteolysis and the release of its supply of T4 and T3
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(E) Binds to thyroid-binding globulin (TBG) and displaces bound T4 and T3
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The antibodies produced in Graves’ disease activate thyroid gland TSH receptors. Their effects mimic those of TSH. The answer is B.
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A 24-year-old woman was found to have mild hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease. She appears to be in good health otherwise.
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The decision is made to begin treatment with methimazole. Methimazole reduces serum concentration of T3 primarily by which of the following mechanisms?
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(A) Accelerating the peripheral metabolism of T3
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(B) Inhibiting the proteolysis of thyroid-binding globulin
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(C) Inhibiting the secretion of TSH
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(D) Inhibiting the uptake of iodide by cells in the thyroid
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(E) Preventing the addition of iodine to tyrosine residues on thyroglobulin
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The thioamides (methimazole and propylthiouracil) act in thyroid cells to prevent conversion of tyrosine residues in thyroglobulin to MIT or DIT. The answer is E.
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A 24-year-old woman was found to have mild hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease. She appears to be in good health otherwise.
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Though rare, a serious toxicity associated with the thioamides is which of the following?
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(B) Lupus erythematosus-like syndrome
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(D) Torsades de pointes arrhythmia
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(E) Thrombotic thrombocytic purpura (TTP)
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Rarely, the thioamides cause severe adverse reactions that include agranulocytosis, vasculitis, hepatic damage, and hypoprothrombinemia. The answer is A.
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A 56-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with tachycardia, shortness of ...