The measurement of the serum sex-hormone binding globulin in various thyroid diseases

Synthesis of "sex-hormone binding globulin" (SHBG) is influenced by thyroid hormones and its concentration in the serum of female subjects may be a marker of thyroid hormone effect at the peripheral tissue (liver) level. Compared to the levels found in euthyroid females (n = 46), the mean...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inActa medica Hungarica Vol. 47; no. 1-2; p. 81
Main Authors Földes, J, Vana, S, Bános, C, Lakatos, P, Tarján, G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Hungary 1990
Subjects
Biomarkers - blood
Goiter, Nodular - blood
Graves Disease - blood
Humans
Hyperthyroidism - blood
Hyperthyroidism - drug therapy
Hypothyroidism - blood
Methimazole - therapeutic use
Reference Values
Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin - analysis
Thyroidectomy
Thyrotropin - blood
Thyroxine - blood
Triiodothyronine - blood
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Summary:Synthesis of "sex-hormone binding globulin" (SHBG) is influenced by thyroid hormones and its concentration in the serum of female subjects may be a marker of thyroid hormone effect at the peripheral tissue (liver) level. Compared to the levels found in euthyroid females (n = 46), the mean (+/- S.D.) serum SHBG concentration was found elevated in overt hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease: n = 56; 141.6 +/- 37.6 vs. 48.3 +/- 16.2; toxic nodular goiter: n = 16; 119.9 +/- 50.7 vs. 48.3 +/- 16.2 nmol/l; P less than 0.001). In contrast, it was decreased in manifest hypothyroidism (n = 25; 24.9 +/- 14.8 vs. 48.3 +/- 16.2; P less than 0.001). In the group of preclinical hyperthyroidism (n = 43), despite suppressed TSH secretion, the serum value of SHBG was normal (47.4 +/- 16.8), while its serum level approached the lower border of the normal range in subclinical hypothyroidism (n = 10; 33.6 +/- 6.1 vs 48.3 +/- 16.2 nmol/l; P less than 0.01). Data indicate that the pituitary responds more sensitively than the liver to a slight change of the serum thyroid hormone level. During thyroid hormone replacement for hypothyroidism, measurement of serum SHBG may provide help to assess the response of the target organ to the given therapy. In patients with generalized resistance to thyroid hormone, the serum SHBG level is within the normal range (51.3 +/- 9.8 nmol/l), thus, its determination supports the diagnosis of this disease.
ISSN:0236-5286