Alterations in circulating thyroid hormones and thyroxine binding globulin in chronic alcoholism

The present study concerns eighteen chronic alcoholics with minimal liver damage. A significant reduction in total serum T4 with an accompanying drop in circulating TBG was observed in these otherwise euthyroid patients. During alcohol withdrawal, we observed a rapid increase in T4 and TBG into the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inClinical endocrinology (Oxford) Vol. 14; no. 2; p. 113
Main Authors Geurts, J, Demeester-Mirkine, N, Glinoer, D, Prigogine, T, Fernandez-Deville, M, Corvilain, J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.02.1981
Subjects
Adult
Alcoholism - blood
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Thyroid Function Tests
Thyroxine - blood
Thyroxine-Binding Proteins - blood
Triiodothyronine - blood
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Summary:The present study concerns eighteen chronic alcoholics with minimal liver damage. A significant reduction in total serum T4 with an accompanying drop in circulating TBG was observed in these otherwise euthyroid patients. During alcohol withdrawal, we observed a rapid increase in T4 and TBG into the normal range. We suggest that the fall in the level of circulating thyroxine-binding globulin is related to a defect in its synthesis or secretion by the liver due to ethanol consumption. Caution is recommended in the interpretation of thyroid function tests in chronic alcoholics.
ISSN:0300-0664
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2265.1981.tb00605.x