Evidence for normal feedback inhibition of triiodothyronine on the thyrotropin (TSH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in abstinent male alcoholics.

Disturbances in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis have been reported in abstinent, noncirrhotic alcoholics, including a reduction in thyrotropin (TSH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and reductions in triiodothyronine (T3). Some evidence has suggested that a portion of alcoholics may also exhibit a disturbance in the feedback inhibition of thyroid hormone on TSH release. To evaluate the function of the HPT axis negative feedback system in abstinent, noncirrhotic alcoholic men we compared the TSH response with TRH before and after a standard suppressive dose of T3. Ten alcoholic subjects were studied and compared with four control subjects from a previous study and to literature values. The mean percent reduction in TSH response in the alcoholic subjects of 74 +/- 7% was almost identical to the 71 +/- 9% reduction observed in normal subjects. The present findings indicate that noncirrhotic, abstinent alcoholic men exhibit normal suppression of the TSH response to TRH following T3.