POSSIBLE ROLE OF HYPERAMMONAEMIA AND/OR OF PORTOSYSTEMIC SHUNTS ON THE VARIABILITY OF THE TSH RESPONSE TO TRH IN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS
ABSTRACT Serum concentrations of thyroid hormones (T3, T4) and the TSH response to TRH administered iv were measured by radioimmunoassay in 21 patients with advanced cirrhosis and compared to 20 control patients without liver disease (group A). While the mean T4 values (8.6±0.3 μg/100 ml) were similar for the two groups, the mean T3 values were significantly lower in patients with liver disease (123 ± 12 vs. 156 ± 10 ng/100 ml). The mean baseline TSH levels and the magnitude of the peak were normal but very scattered in these patients. The TSH response to TRH appeared independant of nutritional status, T4 and T3, anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, transaminasaemia and bilirubinaemia. The TSH release after TRH injection seemed however to be markedly elevated in cirrhotic patients with hyperammonaemia. Therefore, patients with liver disease were separated into two groups according to the absence (group B; n = 11) or the presence (group C; n = 10) of hyperammonaemia. Mean T4 values and the free thyroxine index were lower in group C (7.2 ± 0.6 vs. 9 ± 0.6 μg/100 ml and 1.87 ± 0.16 vs. 2.49 ± 0.15) but mean T3 and basal TSH values did not differ in group B and C. The TSH response was slightly dispersed in B and lower than that observed in A or in C (P < 0.01). A hyperresponsiveness in 4 patients and a hyperresponsiveness in 2 other patients was noted in group C without any correlation with the basal TSH value or T3 or T4 Since hyperammonaemia has been considered as a biological parameter of hepatic encephalopathy, it is suggested that the THS release which is neuraminergic controlled may be altered by this situation resulting in a cerebral aminergic mediators depletion.