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Alterations in circulating thyroid hormones and thyroxine-binding globulin levels during diabetic ketoacidosis

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Abstract

During diabetic ketoacidosis, in 17 adult patients, significant decreases in serum TBG and total T4 levels were observed, without significant alteration of the T4 to TBG binding property. In addition, serum free T4 (FT4) was moderately elevated and the TSH response to TRH was markedly blunted. No correlation, however, was found between TSH blunting and FT4 elevation. Correction of these serum anomalies required at least 5 days of adequate control of the diabetes. Thus, diabetic ketoacidosis in euthyroid patients is characterized by multiple alterations in thyroid function parameters and caution is recommended in the interpretation of thyroid tests during and in the days following this severe metabolic disorder.

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This work was partly presented at the I international Symposium on Free Thyroid Hormones (Venice, Italy, December 1978).

Supported by grants from the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique Belge (NO 3.4517.78 and 3.9001.75) and under contract of the Ministère de la Politique Scientifique within the framework of the Association Euratom-University of Brussels-University of Pisa.

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Glinoer, D., Naeije, R., Golstein, J. et al. Alterations in circulating thyroid hormones and thyroxine-binding globulin levels during diabetic ketoacidosis. J Endocrinol Invest 3, 67–69 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03348220

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