Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 67, 1111-1114, Copyright © 1988 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

The acute effects of human growth hormone administration on thyroid function in normal men

C Grunfeld, BM Sherman and RR Cavalieri
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.

GH replacement therapy may lead to alterations in serum TSH and/or thyroid hormone values in GH-deficient patients, but there is no consensus on the explanation for these changes. We examined the effect of GH administration (0.125 mg, sc, daily for 4 days) on thyroid function in 20 normal men. Serum T4 levels decreased by 8%, and serum free T4 index values decreased by 5%. In contrast, serum T3 levels increased by 21%; serum rT3 did not change. These changes were accompanied by a 54% decrease in the mean serum TSH level. While it is not possible to draw conclusions about hormone production and disposal rates from changes in serum levels, these data are most consistent with enhanced extrathyroidal (including intrapituitary) conversion of T4 to T3 and a compensatory decrease in TSH secretion.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Kohrle, F. Jakob, B. Contempre, and J. E. Dumont Selenium, the Thyroid, and the Endocrine System Endocr. Rev., December 1, 2005; 26(7): 944 - 984. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. Hoffman, B. M. K. Biller, D. Cook, J. Baptista, B. L. Silverman, L. Dao, K. M. Attie, P. Fielder, T. Maneatis, B. Lippe, et al. Efficacy of a Long-Acting Growth Hormone (GH) Preparation in Patients with Adult GH Deficiency J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2005; 90(12): 6431 - 6440. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Porretti, C. Giavoli, C. Ronchi, G. Lombardi, M. Zaccaria, D. Valle, M. Arosio, and P. Beck-Peccoz Recombinant Human GH Replacement Therapy and Thyroid Function in a Large Group of Adult GH-Deficient Patients: When Does L-T4 Therapy Become Mandatory? J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2002; 87(5): 2042 - 2045. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. T. Wyatt, N. Gesundheit, and B. Sherman Changes in Thyroid Hormone Levels during Growth Hormone Therapy in Initially Euthyroid Patients: Lack of Need for Thyroxine Supplementation J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 1998; 83(10): 3493 - 3497. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P. Saenger, K. M. Attie, J. DiMartino-Nardi, R. Hintz, L. Frahm, and J. W. Frane Metabolic Consequences of 5-Year Growth Hormone (GH) Therapy in Children Treated with GH for Idiopathic Short Stature J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 1998; 83(9): 3115 - 3120. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				K. Stenlof, J.-O. Johansson, L. Lonn, L. Sjostrom, and B.-A. Bengtsson Diurnal Variations in Twenty-Four-Hour Energy Expenditure During Growth Hormone Treatment of Adults with Pituitary Deficiency J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 1997; 82(4): 1255 - 1260. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]