Increased incidence of congenital hypothyroidism due to iodine deficiency

BACKGROUND: The incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is expected to be elevated in iodine-deficient areas. In this study, the authors aimed to determine the incidence of transient and permanent CH in a large city which is known to be in the zone of moderate iodine deficiency. METHODS: Newborn babies in Bursa, Turkey, were screened by measurement of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) obtained by heel prick. The babies who had a serum TSH >20 mIU/L were recalled for measurement of T4 and TSH in venous serum. RESULTS: A total of 11 770 newborns were screened over a period of 9 years. The incidence of CH was found to be 1/840. However, after excluding the transient cases, permanent CH was diagnosed in 1/2354. It was impossible to distinguish transient patients from permanent CH by initial laboratory tests (P > 0.05). The estimated power of the study in determining the incidence of CH in the population was 90% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that the incidence of CH is very high in their population which warrants a country-wide neonatal screening program. Since transient cases cannot be distinguished and untreated transient hypothyroidism may also cause mental retardation, treatment must be started as early as possible with frequent monitoring to optimize the outcome and identify the transient patients.     

Response of graft versus host disease to high doses of methyl prednisolone

Summary High dose methyl prednisolone (HDMP) was used to treat 25 episodes of graft versus host disease (GVHD) in 13 patients after bone marrow transplantation for aplastic anaemia or acute leukaemia. All patients showed rapid improvement of GVHD following HDMP with resolution of gut and skin manifestations over several days, but liver GVHD was less responsive to treatment. The major complication of treatment was infection and four patients died from infection following HDMP. The mode of action of HDMP may be a nonspecific anti-inflammatory effect but it appears to be rapidly effective in controlling GVH reactions.     

Penile Kaposi''s sarcomas in a circumcised and HIV-seronegative patient

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) limited to penis is rare and usually observed in AIDS patients. However, in circumcised and HIV-seronegative patients, KS confined to the penis is extremely rare. We present the case of an HIV-seronegative and circumcised 55-year-old man, who presented with two reddish papules, one 5 mm in diameter on the coronal sulcus near the frenulum, and the other 2 mm in diameter on the glans penis, which were reported as a Kaposi's sarcoma after excision of the lesion.     

Primary bilateral spermatocele

We report the case of a bilateral, relatively huge, multilocular spermatocele diagnosed at sonography with surgical and pathological correlation. A 45-year-old man presented with bilateral, large inguinoscrotal masses. He had had the masses since his adolescence and their size gradually increased in the past 5 years. Scrotal ultrasonographic examination showed cystic fluid masses that were 65 x 45 x 50 mm in size on the right and 55 x 45 x 40 mm in size on the left side in multilocular spaces. The cystic masses were excised via bilateral inguinoscrotal incision staying near the body of the epididymis. The patient had fathered three children with no fertility problem.     

Steroid-free interval with anti-D in chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the antibody-mediated destruction of platelets. To maintain the platelets above the symptomatic level we administered 100 μg of anti-D for 5 consecutive days to 19 children with ITP. Four patients did not respond to the treatment. Fifteen responded with an increase in the average platelet number to 76 000/μL 7 days postinjection. However, the platelet count dropped within 45 days to 27 000/μL. Three months after this study, two patients from the study group were then administered monthly anti-D after reinjecting anti-D daily for 5 consecutive days, as previously performed. Platelet levels in these two patients were maintained above 30 000/μL for 5 and 6 months respectively. We concluded that anti-D administration for 5 consecutive days can induce an increase in platelets followed by a decrease below 30 000/μL after 30–45 days. However, monthly administration of anti-D after daily injections for 5 consecutive days can keep platelets above the symptomatic level and may provide a corticosteroid-free safe interval for nearly 5 months.     

Psychological trauma of circumcision in the phallic period could be avoided by using topical steroids

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to assess the efficacy of topical steroids in the treatment of phimosis and evaluate patients using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-III-Revised (DSM-III-R) test with the aim of eliminating castration anxiety of circumcision in the phallic period. METHODS: One hundred and forty-nine children with phimosis who required circumcision were included the study. The average age of the children was 4.47 years. All children underwent the DSM-III-R test and their parents were questioned. Patients were separated randomly into three groups. Group I comprised 51 children who would undergo circumcision; group II comprised 50 children who would be treated with a topical corticosteroid (0.05% bethamethasone cream) twice daily for 1 month; and group III comprised 48 children who would be treated with a topical placebo cream. On the 5th day of treatment, parents were told to retract the prepuce and were given hygiene routine instructions. Patients were seen immediately after treatment and again 2 months later. RESULTS: In group II, 16 of the 50 children had non-retractable prepuce. Forty-two cases of phimosis were corrected after treatment. Eight patients received further monthly treatment and five benefited from the second course of treatment. In group III, 17 of the 48 patients had non-retractable prepuce and four had satisfactory results. Forty-four patients received placebo treatment for another month and eventually, 40 children underwent circumcision in this group. DSM-III-R test results showed a significant shift to anxiety in the circumcision group. The were no significant differences in the other groups. CONCLUSION: Topical steroids for the treatment of phimosis is a highly effective treatment alternative to surgery. It avoids or delays circumcision and can be practised during the phallic period to decrease castration anxiety. The treatment is suitable for patients from any religious or cultural background.