Serum enzymes in diseases of the thyroid gland

Serum enzyme assays have been carried out in 66 patients suffering from diseases of the thyroid gland. Sixty per cent. of the hypothyroid patients had increased levels of aldolase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and 90% had high activities of creatine kinase. The significance of these findings, especially with regard to creatine kinase, is discussed.

The association of I-131-labelled thyroxine and triiodothyronine with serum proteins after starch gel electrophoresis

The binding of I131-labelled triiodothyronine (T3) and 1-thyroxine (T4) with the proteins of human serum has been investigated by means of vertical starch gel electrophoresis in borate buffer at pH 8.6. T3 was found to bind largely to thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) with very little association with albumin, whereas T4 was associated with TBG, albumin, and thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA). Sera from normal persons were shown to have binding capacities for added thyroxine of 25 μg T4 per 100 ml for TBG, and 40 μg T4 per 100 ml for TBPA.

UNUSUAL MANIFESTATIONS OF MYXEDEMA

Eight cases of myxedema with interesting features are presented. Hypertension is common in myxedema and usually persists when the myxedema is treated. Two patients are reported in whom the hypertension improved with the treatment of the myxedema. Other cases presented with ascites, psychosis, recurrent coma with marked hyponatremia and hypochloremia, ataxia, muscular hypertrophy and myotonia. In each patient the abnormalities were corrected by administration of thyroid hormone. In most instances the mechanism whereby symptoms are produced is poorly understood.