49 normal range, and an elevated basal T.S.H. level, with an exaggerated response to thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (LR.H.).
T.S.H.
These observations of diminished T.S.H. secretion during in a patient with primary hypothyroidism support the conclusions of McLarty et al. that hypothalamic and/or pituitary dysfunction is involved, as in starvation,2 in the abnormalities of thyroid function found during acute non-thyroidal illness. acute stress
Department of Medicine, Western Infirmary,
Glasgow G11 6NT.
M.
J. HOOPER
RED-CELL CHANGES IN HYPOTHYROIDISM
SIR—WE were interested to read of the red-cell changes in hypothyroidism described by Dr Perillie and Dr Tembrevilla (Dec. 6, p. 1151). They suggest that the changes may be related to altered red-cell membrane lipid composition, perhaps involving the plasma enzyme lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (L.C.A.T.). Lacko et al,3 have shown decreased L.C.A.T. activity, expressed as fractional esterification-rate, in patients with hypothyroidism, and in these patients L.C.A.T. activity returned to normal with treatment. We have confirmed these findings, and have found statistically significant correlations between L.C.A.T. activity and both serum-thyroxine (r= 064, P
T.S.H.
These observations of diminished T.S.H. secretion during in a patient with primary hypothyroidism support the conclusions of McLarty et al. that hypothalamic and/or pituitary dysfunction is involved, as in starvation,2 in the abnormalities of thyroid function found during acute non-thyroidal illness. acute stress
Department of Medicine, Western Infirmary,
Glasgow G11 6NT.
M.
J. HOOPER
RED-CELL CHANGES IN HYPOTHYROIDISM
SIR—WE were interested to read of the red-cell changes in hypothyroidism described by Dr Perillie and Dr Tembrevilla (Dec. 6, p. 1151). They suggest that the changes may be related to altered red-cell membrane lipid composition, perhaps involving the plasma enzyme lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (L.C.A.T.). Lacko et al,3 have shown decreased L.C.A.T. activity, expressed as fractional esterification-rate, in patients with hypothyroidism, and in these patients L.C.A.T. activity returned to normal with treatment. We have confirmed these findings, and have found statistically significant correlations between L.C.A.T. activity and both serum-thyroxine (r= 064, P
