Basal thyroid function, Thyrotropin (TSH) response to 200 μg of intravenous Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) and thyroid autoantibodies have been studied in 20 patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Moreover, the effectiveness of orally administered TRH (40 and 120 mg/day) was tested against placebo in 10 ALS patients. Basal thyroid and autoimmunity parameters all proved similar in patients and in controls. A blunted TSH response to TRH was observed in ALS patients compared to controls. Oral TRH was ineffective in modifying the clinical course of the disease, but muscular strength did not change significantly throughout the trial. These results indicate a functional derangement of hypotalamus-hypophisis-thyroid axis in ALS and the substantial lack of effect of oral TRH on the course of the disease.
Thyroid function and oral TRH in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
BONUCCELLI, UBALDO;ROSSI, BRUNO;SICILIANO, GABRIELE;
1990-01-01
Abstract
Basal thyroid function, Thyrotropin (TSH) response to 200 μg of intravenous Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH) and thyroid autoantibodies have been studied in 20 patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Moreover, the effectiveness of orally administered TRH (40 and 120 mg/day) was tested against placebo in 10 ALS patients. Basal thyroid and autoimmunity parameters all proved similar in patients and in controls. A blunted TSH response to TRH was observed in ALS patients compared to controls. Oral TRH was ineffective in modifying the clinical course of the disease, but muscular strength did not change significantly throughout the trial. These results indicate a functional derangement of hypotalamus-hypophisis-thyroid axis in ALS and the substantial lack of effect of oral TRH on the course of the disease.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
