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EFFECTS OF IODIDES ON THE HYPOTHALAMIC‐PITUITARY‐THYROID AXIS IN NEUROLOGICAL ENDEMIC CRETINISM: EVIDENCE FOR COMPENSATED THYROIDAL FAILURE IN ADULT LIFE
Author(s) -
MEDEIROSNETO G. A.,
HOLLANDER C. S.,
KNOBEL M.,
IMAI I.,
KATAOKA K.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1978.tb01497.x
Subject(s) - cretinism , medicine , endocrinology , thyroid , hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis , congenital hypothyroidism , myxedema , pituitary gland , thyroid hormones , goiter , hormone
SUMMARY Thyroid function studies, performed after iodide administration to five patients with neurological endemic cretinism, were indicative of hypothyroidism. All five subjects had either a low serum thyroxine (T4) or a high basal thyrotrophin (TSH) level and a clearly exaggerated TSH response to thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH). These findings are in sharp contrast with those we have previously described in goitrous patients without cretinism from the same geographical area. One interpretation of our observations is that there is an underlying mild defect in thyroid hormone synthesis in endemic cretinism predisposing to iodine induced hypothyroidism.