The conversion of thyroxine to triiodothyronine (T3) or to reverse T3 in patients with thyroid dysfunction

Abstract

In order to clarify the conversion of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3) or to reverse T3 (rT3), serum concentrations of T4, T3, rT3, thyrotropin (TSH), thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) and values of T3 uptake (T3 U) were measured in 61 hyperthyroid and 31 hypothyroid patients, 8 patients with subacute thyroiditis, and 40 normal subjects. Then, free T4 index (FT4I), T3/T4, rT3/T4, and rT3/T3 ratio were calculated. The rT3/T3 ratio was high in the hyperthyroid patients and low in the hypothyroid patients compared with that in the normal subjects. The ratio was positively related to serum T4, T3, rT3 levels, and FT4I in the patients and normal subjects. The regression equation was represented by rT3/T3 = 0.015[T4] + 0.083. No influences of serum TBG and age on the rT3/T3 ratio were observed. Our results indicated that thyroid hormones themselves could regulate the conversion of T4 to T3 or rT3 by activating 5-monodeiodinase in hyperthyroidism and by activating 5'-monodeiodinase and suppressing 5-monodeiodinase in hypothyroidism. Serum rT3 level was a more sensitive parameter than serum T4 or T3 for evaluating thyroid dysfunction. During the treatment with methimazole (MMI) or L-thyroxine and the natural course of subacute thyroiditis, serum T4 levels and rT3/T3 ratios changed parallel to the regression line. However, once adverse effects of MMI occurred, those changed out of the line. From these results, we concluded that the relationship between serum T4 level and rT3/T3 ratio should be examined for adequate information concerning the peripheral conversion of thyroid hormones under various thyroid diseases.