Markers of airway inflammation in auto-immune hyperthyroidism; the interaction between thyroid and airways

Respiratory symptoms are more common in patients with thyroid disease. Other
conditions, like allergy's, are also known to be ralated to thyroid
dysfunction. In auto-immune hyperthyroidism there might be more activated
inflammatory cells, what leads to airwayinflammation. NO is a known and
sensitive marker of airwayinflammation.

Hypothesis:
In auto-immune hyperthyroidism there is an increase of
(eosinophil)airwayinflammation compared to healthy test subjects.

Objective:
testing our hypothesis by answering the following questions:

1. What is the difference in NO in exhaled air between patients with
hyperthyroidism and healthy subjects?
2. What are the differences in respiratory symptoms and lungfunction between
patients with hyperthyroidism and healthy subjects?
3. Are respiratory symptoms en lungfunction abnormalities in patients with
auto-immune hyperthyroidism related to the ammount of NO in exhaled air?

In this prospective study 6 patients with hyperthyroidism (M Graves) and 6
healthy test subjects will be included. After recieving informed consent, a
number of extra tests will be performed after the usual analysis in
hyperthyroidism.
A respiratory questionnaire will be taken. A spirometry will be performed and
NO in exhaled air will be measured. The patients with hyperthyroidism will be
compared to the healthy subjects.

Subjects fill out a respiratory questionnaire, spirometry will be performed and
NO in exhaled air will be measured. This will take about 1 hour. There are no
risks for the subjects involved.