Yoshinari M, Tokuyama T, Kuroda T, Sato K, Okazawa K, Mizokami T, Okamura K, Fujishima M. Preserved thyroidal secretion of thyroxine in acromegalic patients with suppressed hypophyseal secretion of thyrotrophin.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1992;
36:355-60. [PMID:
1424168 DOI:
10.1111/j.1365-2265.1992.tb01460.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
We have assessed the mechanisms which maintain euthyroidism in acromegalic patients despite the suppression of thyrotrophin (TSH) secretion.
MATERIALS
Fourteen untreated patients with acromegaly were analysed. Ten patients were also studied after pituitary surgery.
METHODS
Thyroid hormones, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and thyroidal uptake of radioactive iodine, thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) test and basal metabolic rate (BMR) were measured before and after pituitary surgery.
RESULTS
Nine patients had palpable goitres. The TSH response to TRH stimulation was suppressed in eight patients, who maintained normal serum levels of total T3, T4 and free T4. The patients with normal TSH response had lower levels of free and total T4 than controls. The response of TSH to TRH correlated inversely with the serum level of total and free T4, and also with the plasma level of IGF-I (r = -0.74, P less than 0.05, n = 9). After pituitary surgery, the serum levels of total and free T4 were elevated for at least up to 6 months, with a decrease in the T3/T4 ratio and the BMR.
CONCLUSION
GH may have a direct stimulatory action on the thyroid secretion of T4 possibly via increased IGF-I, despite suppressed TSH secretion. The post-operative elevation of serum T4 suggests the persistent secretion of T4 from the thyroid gland, in spite of instantaneous normalization of the accelerated conversion of T4 to T3, even after reduction of excess GH secretion.
Collapse