Abstract |
Patients with T3-predominant Graves' disease have an increased serum T3 level despite a normal or even lower level of serum T4 caused by antithyroid drug treatment. This study investigated the morphological characteristics of the thyroid gland in this type of hyperthyroidism. Ultrasound showed a similar thyroid echogenicity in both T3-predominant and ordinary Graves' disease, but thyroid weight was significantly greater in T3-predominant Graves' disease than in the controls [91 +/- 37 g vs. 48 +/- 17 g (mean +/- SD); P < 0.01]. The height of thyroid follicular epithelial cells were significantly greater in T3-predominant Graves' disease than in the controls (9.6 +/- 1.0 vs. 6.4 +/- 1.1 microns), but the epithelial height did not correlate significantly with the serum TSH receptor antibody titers. Epithelial cells occupied 26.4 +/- 10.9% of the total thyroid tissue in T3-predominant Graves' disease, while they occupied only 14.5 +/- 6.8% in the controls. Intracolloidal vacuoles also occupied a significantly greater area in the T3-predominant group (6.6 +/- 3.9% vs. 1.9 +/- 1.0% for controls). These findings suggest that the thyroid gland is more active in T3-predominant Graves' disease and has a more rapid turnover of intrathyroidal iodine than in the ordinary type of Graves' disease.
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Authors | J Takamatsu, K Takeda, S Katayama, S Sakane, S Morita, K Kuma, N Ohsawa |
Journal | The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
(J Clin Endocrinol Metab)
Vol. 75
Issue 4
Pg. 1145-50
(Oct 1992)
ISSN: 0021-972X [Print] United States |
PMID | 1400885
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Colloids
- Triiodothyronine
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Child
- Colloids
(metabolism)
- Epithelium
(pathology)
- Female
- Graves Disease
(blood, metabolism, pathology)
- Humans
- Hyperplasia
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Thyroid Function Tests
- Thyroid Gland
(metabolism, pathology)
- Triiodothyronine
(blood)
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