A -year-old woman is evaluated in the clinic for a -month history of constant palpitations, excessive sweating, and a () weight loss despite a significantly increased appetite. She also reports new, persistent bi-frontal headaches and recently sideswiped a vehicle while driving, stating she "did not see the car in the next lane." Physical examination reveals warm, moist skin, a fine resting tremor of the outstretched hands, and a diffusely enlarged, non-tender thyroid gland without palpable nodules. Confrontational visual field testing demonstrates diminished peripheral vision bilaterally. Vital signs show a heart rate of and blood pressure of . A urine pregnancy test is negative.
Laboratory results are as follows:
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): (Normal: )
- Free thyroxine (T4): (Normal: )
- Free triiodothyronine (T3): (Normal: )
Which of the following additional findings is most likely present in this patient?
- Elevated serum alpha-subunit levelsAnswer
- BMarkedly decreased radioactive iodine uptake on thyroid scintigraphy
- CHigh titers of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins
- DA mutation in the thyroid hormone receptor beta (TR-beta) gene
- EDecreased synthesis of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)