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Purpose Inflammation plays a critical role in the progression of COVID-19. Nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) has been increasingly recognized in affected patients. We aim to evaluate the correlation of thyroid hormones with markers of inflammation and association with disease outcome in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, and in two profiles of NTIS (low T3-normal/low FT4 vs. low T3-high FT4). Methods consecutive patients admitted to a nonintensive care unit for COVID-19 were recruited. Infection was mild in 22%, moderate in 27.1% and severe in 50.8%; 7.41% died. T4, T3, FT4, FT3, and their ratios (T3/T4, FT3/FT4) were correlated with albumin, ferritin, fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and D-dimer. Results Fifty five patients (50.9% men, median age 56 years) were included. Albumin correlated positively with T3 and hormones ratios, but negatively with FT4. T3, FT3, T3/T4, and FT3/FT4 correlated inversely with ferritin, fibrinogen, ESR, CRP, LDH, and D-dimer. FT4 showed direct correlation with fibrinogen and ESR. T3/T4 was lower in severe compared to mild/moderate disease [7.5 (4.5–15.5) vs. 9.2 (5.8–18.1); p = 0.04], and lower in patients who died than in those discharged [5 (4.53–5.6) vs. 8.1 (4.7–18.1); p = 0.03]. A low T3/high FT4 profile was associated with lower albumin, higher ferritin, and severity. Conclusion In this cohort, thyroid hormones correlated with inflammation and outcome. T3 and T3/T4 correlated inversely with inflammatory markers; a low T3/T4 ratio was associated with severity and poor prognosis. Patients with low T3 but high FT4 had higher ferritin, lower albumin, and more severe disease at presentation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure quality of life (QOL) impairment in individuals currently suffering from Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) and to determine the correlation of GO-specific QOL scores with disease severity and activity. Subjects and methods: Seventy three GO-specific QOL surveys were prospectively analysed and compared with GO status. The GO-specific QOL survey was translated into Spanish and applied to Argentine patients with Graves' disease (GD). Results were compared with presence or absence of GO, Clinical Activity Score (CAS), severity score, age, gender and thyroid function. Results: Fifty-six patients answered the survey and underwent complete ophthalmic evaluation, 15 did not have GO and were considered to be a control group. Appearance QOL score for patients with GO (53 ± 31.4) was lower than the control group (88.3 ± 17) (p < 0,000), no difference was observed in functional QOL score. There was a negative correlation between GO severity and both functional (r = -0.575; p < 0.000) and appearance QOL (r = -0.577; p < 0.000). Functional QOL differed between patients with active GO vs control group (p = 0.043). Patients with active and inactive GO had lower appearance QOL scores than control group (p < 0.000, p < 0.001 respectively). Conclusions: GO has significant impact on the life of these Argentine patients. QOL was worse in GO patients than in control group, functional QOL was mostly affected by the activity and appearance QOL was mainly altered by the effects of the disease. Patients with more severe GO had lower scores on both QOL scales. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2017;61(3):374-81.

This report describes the coexistence of three patients with rheumatic diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and dermatomyositis) and infections because of Histoplasma capsulatum. Connective tissue diseases and histoplasmosis share several clinical findings. Therefore, histoplasmosis could be misdiagnosed as connective tissue disease or a flare of these diseases. Such cases highlight the importance of awareness of histoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients, particularly in those originating from endemic areas.

A 46-year-old man simultaneously developed chronic seronegative non destructive oligoarthritis and chronic watery diarrhoea. Biopsies from the colorectal mucosa showed a thickened subepithelial collagen layer consistent with collagenous colitis. Collagenous colitis should be added to the list of causes of enteropathic arthritis.