The secretion of thyrotrophin with impaired biological activity in patients with hypothalamic-pituitary disease.

Abstract

We describe here two patients with hypothyroidism due to pituitary-hypothalamic disease in whom basal thyrotrophin (TSH) levels measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) were elevated yet when measured by a cytochemical bioassay (CBA) were found to be normal. This finding and the absence of the normal rise of thyroid hormones in response to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) mediated release of TSH confirms for the first time the secretion of TSH with impaired biological activity. Primary thyroid disease as a cause for the elevated immunoreactive TSH was excluded by the absence of circulating thyroid antibodies and by a normal thyroidal radioiodine uptake response to exogenous TSH.

• Authors: V B Petersen, A M McGregor, P E Belchetz, R S Elkeles, R Hall
• Journal: Clinical endocrinology (Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)) Vol. 8 Issue 5 Pg. 397-402 (May 1978) ISSN: 0300-0664 [Print] England
• PMID: 647990 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Triiodothyronine
• Thyrotropin
• Thyroxine

Topics

• Adult
• Biological Assay
• Female
• Histocytochemistry
• Humans
• Hypothyroidism (blood, physiopathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Radioimmunoassay
• Thyrotropin (blood, metabolism)
• Thyroxine (blood)
• Triiodothyronine (blood)