PARAMETERS OF THYROID-FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE ACROMEGALY

In order to determine if acromegaly per se may be associated with abnormalities in thyroidal economy, serum thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), resin T3 uptake, total and free T4, T3, and reverse T3 concentrations were measured in 21 patients with active acromegaly. Mean (± SE) total T4, T3, and reverse T3 levels were 7.1 ± 0.2 μg/dl, 111 ± 4 ng/dl, and 45 ± 2 ng/dl, respectively, and the mean TBG concentration was 3.6 ± 0.2 mg/dl. Similarly, mean free T4, T3, and reverse T3 concentrations were 2.4 ± 0.09 ng/dl, 383 ± 22 pg/dl, and 118 ± 7 pg/dl, respectively. None of these values is significantly different from normal and the thyrotropin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone was also normal. In contrast to several earlier reports, these data suggest that parameters of thyroid function are generally normal in patients with active acromegaly. © 1978.