Effect of Thyroid Hormone Therapy on Plasma Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Levels in Normal Subjects, Hypothyroid Patients and Endemic Cretins

Abstract

The effect of thyroid hormone therapy (L-T4 or L-T3) on plasma immunoreactive insulin-like growth factor I (somatomedin C, Sm-C) concentrations was studied in 8 normal controls, 14 primary hypothyroid subjects and in 7 patients with endemic cretinism. In normal basal levels of Sm-C (1.56 .+-. 0.77 U/ml) increased to (2.46 .+-. 1.0 U/ml; L-T4) and to (2.9 .+-. 0.95 U/ml; L-T3). Plasma Sm-C basal levels were significantly lower in primary hypothyroid subjects (0.81 .+-. 0.48 U/ml) and increased to 2.54 .+-. 1.43 U/ml (L-T4) and to 2.16 .+-. 0.83 U/ml (L-T3). A significant and positive correlation (r=0.56) was found between Sm-C and serum T4 and T3 concentrations. Plasma Sm-C concentrations in endemic cretinism were initially normal in 4 patients, but low in the remaining 3 (mean .+-. SD: 1.18 .+-. 0.63 U/ml) and did not increase after 12 months (1.34 .+-. 0.61 U/ml) or 18 months (1.01 .+-. 0.43 U/ml) of L-T4 and L-T3 therapy. Plasma T4 levels and free T4 increased considerably in EC after therapy and with a significant decrease in the previously elevated plasma TSH concentrations. The subnormal response of plasma Sm-C during effective thyroid hormone therapy could be an additional factor involved in growth failure of endemic cretins.