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Alemtuzumab-Induced Thyroid Dysfunction Exhibits Distinctive Clinical and Immunological Features.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Pariani, Nadia 
Willis, Mark 
Muller, Ilaria 
Healy, Sarah 
Nasser, Taha 

Abstract

CONTEXT: Alemtuzumab, a highly effective treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), predisposes to Graves disease (GD), with a reportedly indolent course. OBJECTIVE: To determine the type, frequency, and course of thyroid dysfunction (TD) in a cohort of alemtuzumab-treated patients with MS in the United Kingdom. DESIGN: Case records of alemtuzumab-treated patients who developed TD were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 41.1% (102 out of 248; 80 female and 22 male) of patients developed TD, principally GD (71.6%). Median onset was 17 months (range 2 to 107) following the last dose, with the majority (89%) within 3 years. Follow-up data (range 6 to 251 months) were available in 71 case subjects, of whom 52 (73.2%) developed GD: 10 of these (19.2%) had fluctuating TD. All 52 patients with GD commenced antithyroid drugs (ATDs): 3 required radioiodine (RAI) due to ATD side effects, and drug therapy is ongoing in 2; of those who completed a course, 16 are in remission, 1 developed spontaneous hypothyroidism, and 30 (64%) required definitive or long-term treatment (RAI, n = 17; thyroidectomy, n = 5; and long-term ATDs, n = 8). Three cases of thyroiditis and 16 cases of hypothyroidism were documented: 5 with antithyroid peroxidase antibody positivity only, 10 with positive TSH receptor antibody (TRAb), and 1 of uncertain etiology. Bioassay confirmed both stimulating and blocking TRAb in a subset of fluctuating GD cases. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to published literature, we recorded frequent occurrence of GD that required definitive or prolonged ATD treatment. Furthermore, fluctuating thyroid status in GD and unexpectedly high frequency of TRAb-positive hypothyroidism suggested changing activity of TRAb in this clinical context; we have documented the existence of both blocking and stimulating TRAb in these patients.

Description

Keywords

Adult, Alemtuzumab, Disease Progression, Female, Graves Disease, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Multiple Sclerosis, Retrospective Studies, Thyroid Diseases, Thyroiditis, Young Adult

Journal Title

J Clin Endocrinol Metab

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0021-972X
1945-7197

Volume Title

103

Publisher

The Endocrine Society
Sponsorship
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY (39)
Wellcome Trust (095564/Z/11/Z)
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (146281)
Wellcome Trust (105924/Z/14/Z)
Wellcome Trust (105924/Z/14/A)
Wellcome Trust (105924/Z/14/Z)
Wellcome Trust (105924/Z/14/A)
Medical Research Council (G0502115)
Medical Research Council (G0600717)
Medical Research Council (G1100114)
Medical Research Council (G0600717/1)