[Serum thyrotropin concentrations in patients with Sheehan's syndrome: reevaluation of the usefulness in the diagnosis].

Serum concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined, using a highly sensitive immunoradiometric assay (IRMA), in 10 patients with Sheehan's syndrome. Serum TSH levels in these patients were from 2.3 to 9.

Enhanced thyroid iodine metabolism in patients with triiodothyronine-predominant Graves' disease.

Some patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease have increased serum T3 and normal or even low serum T4 levels during treatment with antithyroid drugs. These patients with elevated serum T3 to T4 ratios rarely have a remission of their hyperthyroidism. The aim of this study was to investigate thyroid iodine metabolism in such patients, whom we termed T3-predominant Graves' disease.

A new type of albumin with predominantly increased binding affinity for 3,3',5-triiodothyronine in a patient with Graves' disease.

A new type of serum albumin, that shows a markedly enhanced binding activity for 3,3', 5-triiodothyronine (T3), a somewhat increased activity for thyroxine (T4), and a normal activity for 3,3', 5-triiodothyronine (rT3) is described. This albumin was found in a patient with Graves' disease. After successful subtotal thyroidectomy, the existence of abnormal binding activity for T3 was suspected in this patient because of persistently increased total T3 concentrations in spite of elevated thyrotropin levels.

[Pathological characteristics of the thyroid gland in patients with triiodothyronine-predominant Graves' disease].

Pathology of the thyroid gland tissue was characterized in patients with Triiodothyronine (T3)-predominant Graves' disease who had normal levels of serum T4 but increased levels of serum T3 during antithyroid drug therapy. In order to compare this group of patients with an usual type of Graves' patients, age, sex, dietary intake of iodide, duration of antithyroid therapy and the dose of thionamide drugs were matched between the two groups of patients. Thyroid tissue was obtained from subtotal thyroidectomy.

Serum triiodothyronine to thyroxine ratio: a newly recognized predictor of the outcome of hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease.

Patients with untreated hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease have a proportionally greater increase in the serum T3 than in the T4 concentration and, therefore, have an elevation of the serum T3 to T4 ratio. The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations of the serum T3 to T4 ratio in relation to the outcome of antithyroid drug therapy. Of 47 patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease, 37 patients had a serum T3 to T4 ratio greater than 20 ng/micrograms before therapy (normal range, 12-20; mean, 16.

Serum ferritin as a marker of thyroid hormone action on peripheral tissues.

Serum ferritin measurements were evaluated as a marker of thyroid hormone action on peripheral tissues. Mean serum ferritin concentrations were not significantly different in euthyroid, thyrotoxic, and hypothyroid subjects due to a wide spread in ferritin levels among individuals. Intraindividual changes in serum ferritin, however, occurred with changing thyroid function.

Functional and morphometric study of the liver in motor neuron disease.

In routine liver function tests, 23 of 44 patients with motor neuron disease (MND) had abnormal findings, and there was disturbance of unconjugated bilirubin metabolism in 10 of the 33 patients tested. Liver-biopsy specimens from 10 MND patients were compared by electron microscopic examination with specimens from age-matched controls who had chronic persistent hepatitis. The MND patients had a higher incidence of intramitochondrial inclusions, less abundant mitochondria in a given area of cytoplasm and enlarged mitochondria.

Resistance of peripheral tissues and pituitary to thyroid hormone.

We describe a 29-year-old male with thyroid hormone resistance. He was first seen because of a goiter, and was considered to have hyperthyroid Graves' disease. Despite subtotal thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine therapy, serum thyroxine levels were elevated with high serum TSH levels.

Bromocriptine therapy for hyperthyroidism due to increased thyrotropin secretion.

We describe a patient with TSH-induced hyperthyroidism successfully treated with bromocriptine. A 25-yr-old woman was found to have hyperthyroidism due to excessive TSH secretion; no pituitary tumor was found. Her serum T4 level ranged between 21.

Ratio of serum triiodothyronine to thyroxine and the prognosis of triiodothyronine-predominant Graves' disease.

Triiodothyronine (T3)-predominant Graves' disease is characterized by persistently high serum T3 level, normal serum thyroxine (T4) level, and high (greater than 20) serum T3/T4 ratio (nanograms/micrograms) during thionamide drug therapy. We studied the clinical course of 30 patients with T3-predominant Graves' disease. After receiving drug therapy for 1 to 4 years, 27 patients with T3-predominant Graves' disease had relapses, whereas only 9 control patients with Graves' disease whose serum T3/T4 ratio had become persistently normal (less than 20) had relapses.