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We present NECI, a state-of-the-art implementation of the Full Configuration Interaction Quantum Monte Carlo (FCIQMC) algorithm, a method based on a stochastic application of the Hamiltonian matrix on a sparse sampling of the wave function. The program utilizes a very powerful parallelization and scales efficiently to more than 24 000 central processing unit cores. In this paper, we describe the core functionalities of NECI and its recent developments. This includes the capabilities to calculate ground and excited state energies, properties via the one- and two-body reduced density matrices, as well as spectral and Green's functions for ab initio and model systems. A number of enhancements of the bare FCIQMC algorithm are available within NECI, allowing us to use a partially deterministic formulation of the algorithm, working in a spin-adapted basis or supporting transcorrelated Hamiltonians. NECI supports the FCIDUMP file format for integrals, supplying a convenient interface to numerous quantum chemistry programs, and it is licensed under GPL-3.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dyslipidemia is a potential unfavorable prognostic factor in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs); conversely, statins proved to have antiproliferative effects in NET cell lines and could be a helpful therapeutic strategy for these patients. The main objective of this observational cohort retrospective study is to explore the associations between dyslipidemia and NET progression and evaluate the potential influence of statins in this context. 393 patients with histologically confirmed gastroenteropancreatic or bronchopulmonary NETs from six Italian centres didicated to NET diagnosis and therapy were included. The cohort included 123 patients with dyslipidemia, 81 of which were taking statins. Clinicopathological data, including patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment details as well as the prevalence, timing of dyslipidemia and hypolipemic therapy were collected. The main outcome measure used is progression-free survival (PFS). Among the 393 patients, 123 (31.3%) had dyslipidemia. Statins were used by 81 (65.8%) dyslipidemic patients, mostly atorvastatin. Median PFS was 87 months overall, 124 months in non-dyslipidemic patients, and 72 months in dyslipidemic patients (p = .268). Dyslipidemic patients on statins had a significantly better median PFS (108 months) than those not on statins (26 months; p = .024). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was also evaluated, but no significant differences were found. In conclusion, while PFS was lower in dyslipidemic patients compared to non-dyslipidemic patients, the difference was not statistically significant. Statin therapy was associated with improved PFS among dyslipidemic patients, suggesting a potential antiproliferative effect of statins in NETs. These findings warrant further investigation to substantiate the role of statins in the management of NETs., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Neuroendocrinology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Society for Neuroendocrinology.)

Background : The current possible treatments of advanced medullary carcinoma (MTC) include different drugs belonging to the class of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs): vandetanib, cabozantinb, and selpercatinib. Although the effects of these TKIs have been well described in clinical trials, the real-practice evidence of the effectiveness and safety of these treatment is scant. This real-world case series aims to describe a niche of patients with advanced MTC treated with more than one TKI by focusing on treatment responses and any reported adverse events (AEs) and to provide additional insight on the individualized approach to the management of metastatic MTC. Methods : Five patients with a diagnosis of metastastic MTC, treated with at least two different molecules of TKIs, were retrospectively selected. Results : Three patients obtained a partial response (one with cabozantinb, one with selpercatinib, and one with vandetanib), and two patients obtained disease stability (both of them treated with all three TKIs, the first two lines discontinued for AEs). The AE profile agreed with the known clinical trials AEs except for non-neoplastic ascites related to selpercatinib and lung cavitations of non-neoplastic tissue related to cabozantinb. The latter was an AE never described so far in patients receiving TKIs. Conclusions : The best management of MTC relies on an individualized approach, keeping in mind and dealing with the potential toxicity in order to minimize the treatment withdrawal.

Inositols have demonstrated a role in cancer prevention and treatment in many kinds of neoplasms. Their molecular mechanisms vary from the regulation of survival and proliferative pathways to the modulation of immunity and oxidative stress. The dysregulation of many pathways and mechanisms regulated by inositols has been demonstrated in endocrine and neuroendocrine tumors but the role of inositol supplementation in this context has not been clarified. The aim of this review is to summarize the molecular basis of the possible role of inositols in endocrine and neuroendocrine tumors, proposing it as an adjuvant therapy.

Introduction: Mitotane, the only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma, is associated with several side effects including neurotoxicity. The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between mitotane plasma levels and neurological toxicity., Methods: We have considered five patients affected by adrenocortical carcinoma treated with mitotane. The neurological assessment included a neurological examination, an electroencephalogram, event-related potentials (P300), and a neuropsychological assessment. All of the patients were first considered at the onset of symptoms of neurotoxicity or when mitotanemia levels were above 18 mg/L, for the second time at mitotanemia normalization and subsequently at its further increase, or in case of persistent neurological abnormalities, some months after normalization., Results: At the first neurotoxicity, four patients showed impaired neurological examination, electroencephalogram, and P300; three patients had impaired neuropsychological assessment; one patient, only P300. At mitotanemia normalization, the neurological examination became normal in all patients and electroencephalogram normalized in one patient, improved in another one, continuing to be altered in the other three. P300 latency and neuropsychological assessment normalized in two patients and persisted altered in the patient experiencing long-term mitotane toxicity. At the third evaluation, in the patient with prolonged mitotane toxicity, the normal mitotanemia in the previous 9 months restored P300 and improved the electroencephalogram but not the neuropsychological assessment. In the two patients experiencing a further rise of mitotanemia, neurological examination was normal but P300 and electroencephalogram were altered., Conclusion: The results of our study highlighted the presence of neurophysiological and neuropsychological abnormalities associated with mitotane values above 18 mg/L., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Mormando, Galiè, Bianchini, Lauretta, Puliani, Tanzilli, Anceschi, Simone, Petreri, Graziano, Pace and Appetecchia.)

Introduction: Treatment of acromegaly resistant to first generation somatostatin analogues (first gen-SSA) is often difficult. We aimed to investigate the role of partial response and resistance to first gen-SSA in the choice of second line treatments and their outcomes., Patients and Methods: A retrospective and multicenter study was conducted on 100 SSA-resistant acromegaly patients and treated with Pasireotide Lar (Pasi-Lar), Peg-V in monotherapy (m-Peg-V) or in combination with first gen-SSA (c-Peg-V)., Results: Thirty-three patients (33%) were treated with m-Peg-V, 36 (36%) with c-Peg-V and 31 with Pasi-Lar (31%). According to logistic regression, m-Peg-V was chosen in older patients (p = 0.01) and with not-invasive adenomas (p = 0.009), c-Peg-V therapy in younger patients (p = 0.001), with invasive adenomas (p = 0.02), Pasi-Lar was in invasive adenomas (p = 0.01) and in patients partially responsive to first-gen SSA (p = 0.01). At the last follow-up, 68 patients (68%) reached the acromegaly control: 22 with m-Peg-V (32.4%), 23 with c-Peg-V (33.8%) and 23 with Pasi-Lar (33.8%). Patients non-responsive to c-Peg-V had higher IGF-I levels (median 3.2 x ULN, IQR: 1.6, p < 0.001) and required higher Peg-V dosage (median 30 mg/daily IQR: 10, p = 0.002) as compared to responsive patients (median IGF-I x ULN: 2.1 IQR: 1.4; median Peg-V dosage 20 mg/daily IQR: 10). All patients responsive to Pasi-Lar were partially responsive to first gen-SSAs (p = 0.02)., Conclusion: Our data showed that c-Peg-V and Pasi-Lar are chosen for the treatment of invasive tumors. The partial response to first gen-SSA seems to be the main determinant for the choice of Pasi-Lar and positively predicts the treatment outcome., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) using radiolabeled somatostatin analogs has been used for over two decades for the treatment of well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and the publication of the NETTER-1 trials has further strengthened its clinical use. However, many aspects of this treatment are still under discussion. The purpose of this review is to collect and discuss the new available evidence, published in 2021, on the use of 177 Lu-Oxodotreotide (DOTATATE) or 90 Y-Edotreotide (DOTATOC) in adult patients with NETs focusing on the following hot topics: 1) PRRT use in new clinical settings, broaden its indications; 2) the short- and long-term safety; and 3) the identification of prognostic and predictive factors. The review suggests a possible future increase of PRRT applications, using it in other NETs, as a neoadjuvant treatment, or for rechallenge. Regarding safety, available studies, even those with long follow-up, supported the low rates of adverse events, even though 1.8% of treated patients developed a second malignancy. Finally, there is a lack of prognostic and predictive factors for PRRT, with the exception of the crucial role of nuclear imaging for both patient selection and treatment response estimation., Competing Interests: MA does consultancy and has received research grants from Bayer, Eisai, and Eli-Lilly. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Puliani, Chiefari, Mormando, Bianchini, Lauretta and Appetecchia.)

Despite the pivotal role of mitotane in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) management, data on the endocrine toxicities of this treatment are lacking. The aim of this systematic review is to collect the available evidence on the side effects of mitotane on the endocrine and metabolic systems in both children and adults affected by adrenal carcinoma. Sixteen articles on 493 patients were included. Among the adrenal insufficiency, which is an expected side effect of mitotane, 24.5% of patients increased glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Mineralocorticoid insufficiency usually occurred late in treatment in 36.8% of patients. Thyroid dysfunction is characterized by a decrease in FT4, which occurs within 3-6 months of treatment in 45.4% of patients, while TSH seems to not be a reliable marker. Dyslipidemia is characterized by an increase in both LDL-c and HDL-c (54.2%). Few studies have found evidence of hypertriglyceridemia. In males, gynecomastia and hypogonadism can occur after 3-6 months of treatment (38.4% and 35.6%, respectively), while in pre-menopausal women, mitotane can cause ovarian cysts and, less frequently, menstrual disorders. Most of these side effects appear to be reversible after mitotane discontinuation. We finally suggest an algorithm that could guide metabolic and endocrine safety assessments in patients treated with mitotane for ACC.

Inositols are natural molecules involved in several biochemical and metabolic functions in different organs and tissues. The term "inositols" refers to five natural stereoisomers, among which myo-Inositol (myo-Ins) is the most abundant one. Several mechanisms contribute to regulate cellular and tissue homeostasis of myo-Ins levels, including its endogenous synthesis and catabolism, transmembrane transport, intestinal adsorption and renal excretion. Alterations in these mechanisms can lead to a reduction of inositols levels, exposing patient to several pathological conditions, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), hypothyroidism, hormonal and metabolic imbalances, like weight gain, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Indeed, myo-Ins is involved in different physiological processes as a key player in signal pathways, including reproductive, hormonal, and metabolic modulation. Genetic mutations in genes codifying for proteins of myo-Ins synthesis and transport, competitive processes with structurally similar molecules, and the administration of specific drugs that cause a central depletion of myo-Ins as a therapeutic outcome, can lead to a reduction of inositols levels. A deeper knowledge of the main mechanisms involved in cellular inositols depletion may add new insights for developing tailored therapeutic approaches and shaping the dosages and the route of administration, with the aim to develop efficacious and safe approaches counteracting inositols depletion-induced pathological events.

Background: Acromegaly is a rare disease due to chronic growth hormone (GH) excess and the consequent increase in insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels. Both GH and IGF-1 play a role in intermediate metabolism affecting glucose homeostasis. The association between hyperinsulinemia/impaired glucose tolerance and an increased risk of cancer has been clarified. Insulin has a mitogenic effect through its interaction with the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) that also binds IGF-1. On the other hand, metformin, an anti-hyperglycemic drug that decreases serum levels of insulin and IGF-1, could have a protective role in the treatment of endocrine tumors., Methods: A retrospective, observational, multicenter study in 197 acromegalic patients, receiving/not receiving metformin, was performed to assess whether the prevalence of neoplasms might be correlated with insulin resistance and could eventually be modified by metformin treatment., Results: In general, the occurrence of secondary neoplasia among our patients was significantly (pV = 0.035) associated with a positive family history of malignancy and with disease duration; a trend towards significance was observed in patients aged > 50 years. Acromegalic subjects who had undergone surgery showed a lower probability of developing a malignant tumor, whereas a higher prevalence of malignancies was observed in obese patients. No significant statistical difference was found when comparing metformin-treated or -untreated subjects for the presence of a second tumor. More interestingly, a trend towards statistical significance (pV = 0.065) was demonstrated in the metformin-treated group for the onset of a benign neoplasm., Conclusion: Metformin could act directly on tumor cell metabolism and may have an adjuvant role in benign lesion progression.

Background: Italian cytology system for thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) includes indeterminate lesions at low- (Tir 3A) and high-risk (Tir 3B). The present retrospective multicenter study was undertaken to compare the histological type of cancers and disease-free survival in these two groups., Methods: Eight institutions participated. Thyroid cancer patients diagnosed and followed-up after Tir 3A or Tir 3B were reviewed. Histological diagnosis was adopted as the gold standard. Patients were defined with cancer recurrence or no evidence of disease. Disease-free survival (DFS) was calculated. A non-parametric statistical analysis was used. DFS was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method and Hazard Ratio (HR) defined the slope of curves., Results: Two hundred and nine patients (median DFS 24 months) were enrolled and a 6.3% of these recurred. Tir 3B group had higher age (p = 0.014), larger cancer size (p = 0.0002), shorter DFS (p = 0.003), higher number of aggressive cancers (p = 0.006), and relapse frequency double than Tir 3A. At survival curves analysis, Tir 3B group had HR of 2.37 with respect to Tir 3A. At Cox's proportional hazard regression analysis histology was the only significant predictor of relapse., Conclusions: While patients with thyroid FNA of Tir 3B should be addressed to surgery due to high likelihood of more aggressive cancer, a diagnostic surgery could be avoided in patients with Tir 3A if concurrent unsuspicious clinical features are found.

The diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is a challenging task: Symptoms are rarely specific, and clinical manifestations are often evident only when metastases are already present. However, several bioactive substances secreted by NETs can be included for diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive purposes. Expression of these substances differs between different NETs according to the tumor hormone production. Gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) NETs originate from the diffuse neuroendocrine system of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreatic islets cells: These tumors may produce many non-specific and specific substances, such as chromogranin A, insulin, gastrin, glucagon, and serotonin, which shape the clinical manifestations of the NETs. To provide an up-to-date reference concerning the different biomarkers, as well as their main limitations, we reviewed and summarized existing literature.

Varicocele is a common finding in men. Varicocele correction has been advocated for young patients with testicular hypotrophy, but there is a lack of morphofunctional follow-up data. We assessed whether percutaneous treatment of left varicocele is associated with testicular "catch-up growth" in the following 12 months by retrospectively reviewing data from an electronic database of 10 656 patients followed up in our clinic between 2006 and 2016. We selected all young adults (<35 years) with left varicocele who underwent percutaneous treatment, had a minimum of 12 months' ultrasound imaging follow-up, and had no other conditions affecting testicular volume. One hundred and fourteen men (mean±standard deviation [s.d.] of age: 22.8 ± 5.4 years) met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Left testicular hypotrophy (LTH), defined as a ≥20% difference between left and right testicular volume at baseline, was observed in 26 (22.8%) men. Participants with LTH (mean±s.d.: 14.5 ± 2.7 ml) had lower baseline testicular volume compared to those without LTH (mean±s.d.: 15.7 ± 3.8 ml; P = 0.032). Repeated measures mixed models showed a significant interaction between LTH and time posttreatment when correcting for baseline left testicular volume (β = 0.114, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.018-0.210, P = 0.020), resulting in a catch-up growth of up to 1.37 ml per year (95% CI: 0.221-2.516). Age at intervention was also associated with reduced testicular volume (-0.072 ml per year, 95% CI: -0.135--0.009; P = 0.024). Percutaneous treatment of left varicocele in young adults with LTH can result in catch-up growth over 1 year of follow-up. The reproductive and psychological implications of these findings need to be confirmed in longer and larger prospective studies.

In recent years, endocrine disrupting chemicals have gained interest in human physiopathology and more and more studies aimed to explain how these chemicals compounds affect endocrine system. In human populations, the majority of the studies point toward an association between exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and the disorders affecting endocrine axis. A great number of endocrine disrupting chemicals seem to be able to interfere with the physiology of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis; however, every endocrine axis may be a target for each EDCs and their action is not limited to a single axis or organ. Several compounds may also have a negative impact on energy metabolic homeostasis altering adipose tissue and promoting obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. Different mechanism have been proposed to explain these associations but their complexity together with the degree of occupational or environmental exposure, the low standardization of the studies, and the presence of confounding factors have prevented to establish causal relationship between the endocrine disorders and exposure to specific toxicants so far. This manuscript aims to review the state of art of scientific literature regarding the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on endocrine system.

Aim: Due to the limits of calcitonin, other markers are warranted to better manage medullary thyroid carcinoma patients, and procalcitonin has been reported as promising. Here we aimed to evaluate procalcitonin as a marker of medullary thyroid carcinoma in the post-treatment follow-up., Methods: Medullary thyroid carcinoma patients previously treated by thyroidectomy were enrolled. After complete imaging work-up (i.e. ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance and 18 FDG-PET-CT) we identified patients with structural recurrent/persistent medullary thyroid carcinoma (active medullary thyroid carcinoma) and subjects with no evidence of disease. Then, both calcitonin and procalcitonin were measured and their performance analyzed., Results: The final series included 55 medullary thyroid carcinoma patients treated and followed-up for about five years. Of these, 43 were assessed as no evidence of disease, and 12 as active medullary thyroid carcinoma. The median value of procalcitonin was significantly higher ( P < 0.0001) in active medullary thyroid carcinoma patients (3.10 ng/mL) than in those with no evidence of disease (0.10 ng/mL). Also, calcitonin levels of active medullary thyroid carcinoma (96.7 pg/mL) were significantly ( P < 0.0001) higher than that of no evidence of disease (2.0 pg/mL). At the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cut-off of procalcitonin was ≥0.32 ng/mL with 92% sensitivity and 98% specificity, while the most accurate threshold of calcitonin was ≥12.0 pg/mL with 100% sensitivity and 91% specificity. There was no active medullary thyroid carcinoma with simultaneously negative results of procalcitonin and calcitonin., Conclusions: Procalcitonin is reliable in discriminating medullary thyroid carcinoma patients with active disease from those with no evidence of disease. We suggest using procalcitonin as complementary to calcitonin to follow-up medullary thyroid carcinoma patients.

Purpose: Recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) is currently used in follow-up of patients affected by differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Age, sex, weight, body mass index, body surface area (BSA) and renal function are known factors affecting serum TSH peak levels, but the proper rhTSH dose to deliver to single patient remains elusive. In this study, the correlations of basal metabolic rates with serum TSH peak following rhTSH administration were investigated., Methods: We evaluated 221 patients affected by thyroid cancer that received a standard dose rhTSH. Blood samples were collected at pre-established time points. Data on body weight, height, and BSA were collected. The Mifflin-St Jeor and Fleisch equations were used to assess basal metabolism., Results: The median value (range) of serum TSH peaks was 142 ± 53 μU/ml. Serum TSH peaks were significantly lower in males than in females ( p  = 0.04). TSH values also increased with age. Data showed a significant decrease of TSH peak levels at day 3 from the administration of rhTSH when basal metabolic rates increased ( p  = 0.002 and p  = 0.009, respectively). Similar findings were observed at day 5 ( p  = 0.004 and p  = 0.04, respectively). A multivariate analysis of several factors revealed that patients' basal metabolism (obtained using the Mifflin-St Jeor but not Fleisch equation) predicts serum TSH level peak at day 3 ( p  < 0.001). These results were used to generate a new formula based on Mifflin-StJeor equation which reveals as a promising tool in tailoring rhTSH dose., Conclusion: Basal metabolism appears an improving factor in tailoring diagnostic rhTSH dose in patients affected by DTC.

Calcitonin is the hallmark of medullary thyroid carcinoma. However, extrathyroidal neuroendocrine tumors can also release calcitonin.We report 2 cases of calcitonin-secreting pancreatic tumors found in asymptomatic patients with thyroid nodules referred to our center within 11 months.Case 1: A man initially referred for thyroid nodule characterization was found to have hypercalcitoninemia (>200 pg/mL) during non-neoplastic fine-needle aspiration.Case 2: A woman evaluated for liver metastasis was found to have hypercalcitoninemia and multinodular goiter.Our research emphasizes that marked hypercalcitoninemia in the presence of thyroid nodules is not necessarily due to medullary thyroid carcinoma; awareness of this could avoid unnecessary thyroidectomy. The lack of specific symptoms related to hypercalcitoninemia may be the reason that the prevalence of calcitonin-secreting pancreatic tumors is underestimated., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Preclinical, early phase clinical trials and epidemiological evidence support the potential role of insulin-sensitizers in cancer prevention and treatment. Insulin-sensitizers improve the metabolic and hormonal profile in PCOS patients and may also act as anticancer agents, especially in cancers associated with hyperinsulinemia and oestrogen dependent cancers. Several lines of evidence support the protection against cancer exerted by dietary inositol, in particular inositol hexaphosphate. Metformin, thiazolidinediones, and myoinositol postreceptor signaling may exhibit direct inhibitory effects on cancer cell growth. AMPK, the main molecular target of metformin, is emerging as a target for cancer prevention and treatment. PCOS may be correlated to an increased risk for developing ovarian and endometrial cancer (up to threefold). Several studies have demonstrated an increase in mortality rate from ovarian cancer among overweight/obese PCOS women compared with normal weight women. Long-term use of metformin has been associated with lower rates of ovarian cancer. Considering the evidence supporting a higher risk of gynaecological cancer in PCOS women, we discuss the potential use of insulin-sensitizers as a potential tool for chemoprevention, hypothesizing a possible rationale through which insulin-sensitizers may inhibit tumourigenesis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no competing interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Background: Macrophages and adipocytes contribute to release of cytokines resulting in the chronic inflammatory profile of the metabolic syndrome. The local increase of proinflammatory cytokines impairs adipogenesis, resulting in formation of dysfunctional adipocytes that are unable to store and handle lipids. The altered lipid fluxes in/from adipocytes affect whole-body metabolism. We investigated the role of androgens on adipocyte-derived proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines during preadipocyte differentiation., Materials and Methods: Various differentiation methods were used to obtain full conversion of 3T3-L1 into mature adipocytes. The degree of adipocyte conversion in the presence/absence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was analyzed by measuring intracellular triglycerides (Oil Red O staining). The effects of DHT administration on interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, interferon γ (IFNγ) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) secretion was measured at days 0, 4, 6 and 8 of differentiation using the SearchLight multiplex protein array., Results: DHT regulates a number of cytokines in committed and mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes. IL-1β and TNFα were readily suppressed at the very early stages of differentiation. IFNγ release was inhibited at day 4, but the effect was no longer detectable on day 8. IL-6 and IL-12 were significantly reduced at day 8 of differentiation. Conversely, the differentiation-dependent increase of IL-2 and IL-10 was further stimulated by DHT since day 0., Conclusions: We provide evidence that androgens promote an anti-inflammatory profile that parallels the acquisition of a functional adipocyte phenotype. The crosstalk between androgens, adipocyte-derived mediators of inflammation and intracellular lipid fluxes could have profound implications on metabolism of men with obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Aim: Aim of the study is a prospective evaluation of the simultaneous presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis as a sign of a possible occurrence of another autoimmune disease., Methods: Thirty two patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis have been selected. No other immunological parameters have been used for the selection. All the patients have been submitted to ANA research and to thyroid colour-Doppler ultrasonography. Moreover, subgroups of patients have been submitted to the research of other autoimmunity parameters: 25 patients to AMA (anti-mitochondrial antibodies), ASMA (anti-smooth muscle antibodies), ENA (extractable nuclear antigens) and anti-double stranded-DNA; 7 patients to anti-gastric mucosa; 8 patients to ACA (anti-cardiolipin antibodies) IgM and IgG; 12 patients to rheuma-screen. Twenty five patients were under L-thyroxine therapy at the time of the samples., Results: Forty-seven percent of the patients were ANA positive. Of them 60% showed a title of 1:40. The most frequent sonography picture was pseudo-nodular (66%) with predominance in ANA negative subgroups (71%) than in ANA positive one (60%). On the basis of all the autoimmune parameters evaluated in every subgroups, 72% of our patients were positive to at least one autoimmunity parameter and/or have an autoimmune disease besides Hashimoto's thyroiditis., Conclusion: The conclusion is drawn that the patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis should be considered as an autoimmune patient. Thus, it is necessary to carry out an autoimmune screening with ANA in every new diagnosed patients and to study in depth the familiar and phatological history. Periodical checking of the autoimmune parameters should not be underestimated in these patients.