Abstract

Erythrocyte zinc concentration and plasma thyroid hormones were measured in 32 patients admitted to hospital because of hyperemesis gravidarum. At presentation, 8 patients had elevated total and free thyroxine concentrations. The initial erythrocyte zinc concentration in these 8 patients was not different from the others, but in 5 of them, a transient drop in the erythrocyte zinc concentration was observed 2-12 weeks later, and which returned to normal towards the end of pregnancy. The lowest erythrocyte zinc concentration in the hyperthyroxinaemic group (171.0 +/- 31.7 mumol/l of RBC) was significantly lower than that of the normothyroxinaemic group (214.2 +/- 33.9 mumol/l of RBC) (p less than 0.01). This indicates that hyperthyroxinaemia in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum represents true hyperthyroidism, but is different from classical thyrotoxicosis in that the elevation of thyroid hormones is transient.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.