Dr. Liuska Pesce
Pediatric Endocrinology
Iowa City, IA
24 years experience female
Locations
Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Iowa Children's Hospital
Iowa City, IA
Office
Iowa City, IA
About
Bio
Completed Medical school in Universidad Central de Venezuela, Luis Razetti school of Medicine, class of 1998. Postdoctoral research fellowship at Northwestern university, Chicago, IL, pediatric residency at University of Illinois in Chicago and fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at Children' Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University in Chicago. Currently at Iowa City, IA as clinical assistant professor in pediatric endocrinology, University of Iowa Children's Hospital.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Pediatric Endocrinology
Languages spoken
Italian
Doctor Q&A
94 Answers
23 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Diet and exercise: On top of taking your thyroid hormone, the most important things to do are to eat healthy and exercise. Taking the thyroid hormone to keeo levels norm... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
A cream with SPF: Protecting you skin from sunlight will decrease aging.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Not reported: Metformin has not been reported to interfere with the absorption of thyroid hormones. One report suggested it could lower TSH levels in some patients ... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Could be dangerous: An overactive thyroid needs to be evaluated and treated. Excessive amount of thyroid hormone levels can lead to severe complications, including rapid ... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Exercise and diet: The most effective and lon-lasting way of reducing body fat is diet and exercise.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
See your doctor: Do you mean you are still having periods or do you mean you bleed every day? Best to see your gynecologist and have an evaluation to make sure there i... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Likely not: Treatment of an overactive thyroid aims to make your thyroid hormone levels normal. Thsi will also normalize your metabolism (it will slow down, as co... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Size?: It is correct that in younger people thyroid nodules are benign, however, us is not very good at ruling out malignancy. Close follow up of the nodule ... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
???: Lupron (leuprolide) decreases hormones of puberty, so it will make you feel like having menopause, but it usually needs several injections to complete... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Not a bindin protein: Thyroglobulin is the protein inside the thyroid to wich tyrosine residues iodine binds to make thyroid hormones. The main binding protein that carries... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Ask the prescriber: Best to check with the doctor who sent the prescription to clarify.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Rarely: Long term, severe hypothyroidism can lead to a rare complication called mixedema coma. Extremely rare. Taking thyroid hormone and keepipng levels norm... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Birth controlm pills: Oral contraceptives, if there are no contraindications, are helpful at improving acne.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Different causes: The most common is normal variation of puberty. There is usually a family history of late blooming in this case. Other causes of delayed puberty inclu... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Unlikely: Most people with underactive thyroid don;t have circulation problems. Very severe hypothyroidism can cause low blood pressure. Hypothyrodism can make ... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Testicular size: The first sign of true puberty in boys is growth of the testicles. Best to take your son for an exam. Puberty before the age of 9 years in boys is con... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Addison's?: If not intentionally tanning, consider having cortisol and acth levels done in the early morning. See your doctor.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
More research needed: The best treatment for low thyroid function is to replace the thyroid hormone with levothyroxine to get the levels back to normal. New research sugges... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Yes: I would not start juice this early, also recommend introducing orange and other acid fruits at last, after baby tolerates milder fruits.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Possible: High calcium in the urine can increase urine output and also can cause burning sensation with urination but i recommend ruling out diabetes ( high blo... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
L- thyroxine?: If the dose of thyroid hormone replacement is adequate, it usually takes 4-6 weeks in adults for medication to achieve steady levels. Sometimes smalle... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Unclear: No evidence that these type of pills improve weight loss.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
No: Acne is a problem caused by increased sebum production, bacterial infection, inflammation or accumulation of dead cells at the follicle. Puberty incre... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Unlikely: Pregnancy unlikely with normal period, but could be an infection. See your gynecologist.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Yes: Depression can be a symptom of depression, but usually hypothyroidism manifests with other symptoms at the same time. Depresion can also occur indepen... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Depends: Being a late bloomer when you are an adult, should not impact your current health, unless while going trough puberty you did not develop enough bone d... Read More
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Probably not: If TSH was 3.2 before your started taking thyroxine, with a normal t4, most likely you will not feel bad if you stop treatment. Talk to your doctor a... Read More
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Ignore: Do follow your pediatric endocrinologist recommendations with good compliance.
4.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
The: The most important component in the treatment of type 1 diabetes is Insulin and close monitoring.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Yes: Depending on the severity and type of thryoid problem. Please seek medical advice.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Yes: Adderall (dextroamphetamine and racemic amphetamine) can affect children's growth, usually by affecting weight gain, with growth deceleration followin... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Possibly: The brain development of the baby in the first trimester is highly dependent on maternal thyroid hormones. Babies of hypothyroid mothers may have lowe... Read More
4.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
See a doctor: You may need to see your doctor, have your blood pressure checked and possibly some laboratory tests.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Diet and exercise: A healthy diet and exercise and taking your thyroid hormone replacement as recommended by your doctor. Normal thyroid hormone levels will help you to ... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Go to the doctor!: She needs to have her blood sugar level checked right away. She also needs evaluation to rule out acidosis and a glycated hemoglobin, which will help ... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
No: There are no diet pills to treat overactive thyroid. Usually, when the thyroid is overactive, an anti-thyroid medication is used to slow down thyroid ... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Uncommon at this age: She may need to be seen. Most likely she has benign premature adrenarche - early awakening of her adrenals. She will benefit from being examined and h... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
See endocrinologist: You may need more evaluation to rule out adrenal disorders if having skin hyper pigmentation and high androstenedione levels.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
See a doctor: Symptoms can occur with several diagnosis. History, physical examination and some labs can help. Consider ruling out cortisol deficiency and gastroint... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Causes: Autoimmune. Either the immune system makes a protein that stimulates the thyroid to be "on" all the time (graves disease) or the immune system is dest... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Depends on levels: Dhea is the most abundant adrenal hormone. It's sulfated form is more stable. Labs are not perfect and i wonder why the level was checked in the first... Read More
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Seek help: You may have depression. See your doctor to make sure there is nothing else affecting your mood, like hypothyroidism, but if you have thoughts of harm... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Depends: Depends on the drug.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Side has thyroid problems. what else could cause low thyroid and hormonal imbalances besides thrush?
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Not a cause: Trush (candidal or yeast infection) does not cause thyroid problems nor hormonal problems.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Testicular volume?: Physical exam is needed to determine degree of testicular volume for prediction of additional development.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Yes: Autoimmune thyroid disease is complex. Patients with family history of thyroid diseases can make blocking or stimulating proteins against the TSH rece... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Depends: Is it an underactive or an overactive thyroid?
Overactive thyroid can cause more severe acute problems, including severe hypertension, rapid heart be... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
More evaluation: You may need more evaluation, what was your cortisol level? Did they obtain an acth level? Other labs? It is true it could be something else, but cort... Read More
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Liuska Pesceanswered
24 years experience
Depends: If you are having normal, regular menstual cycles and had a normal timing of puberty most likely breasts will remain close to the size you have. They ... Read More
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
212
Thank you notes
Apr 7, 2013
Great responses!
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Pesce is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Pesce is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you doctor I really needed to know what was thyroglobulin but now I know I'll try to ask more questions thanks again I liked the answe
HealthTap member
Thanks. I will keep trying. The treating psych is unwilling to give a referral to an endocrinologist or to test so waiting until voluntary
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! I am just wondering if there are any diet pills I can take as well as the thyroid medication.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Luis razetti univ central de venezuela, ciudad univ
Graduated 1998MD
Awards
Top Doctor, First Place, Iowa City, IA - Winter
2013
Most Influential, First Place, Iowa City, IA - Winter
2013
Thought Leader, First Place, Iowa City, IA - Winter
2013
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
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