THYROXINE (T₄), TRIIODOTHYRONINE (T₃) AND REVERSE TRIIODOTHYRONINE (rT₃) CONCENTRATIONS IN CHILDREN WITH TYPE I DIABETES (IOD)

Abstract

Measurements of T₄, T₃ and rT₃ were done by means of a radioimmunoassay in 22 children (age 3,6 - 13,8 yrs., 13 boys, 9 girls) with newly diagnosed type I diabetes. In 17 patients, rT₃ values were significantly elevated (mean 57 ng/dl) as well as the rT₃/T₃ ratio (mean 0,92). T₃ concentrations were low or low normal in 18 children (mean 72,2 ng/dl). Only in 4 patients, T₃ and rT₃ were in the normal range. TSH (basal) was normal in all children. There was no significant correlation of the T₃ and the rT₃ concentrations with the time since onset of symptoms of diabetes, the blood glucose values, the HbA_lc concentrations and the parameters of diabetic ketoacicosis. 4 weeks after onset of therapy, T₄, T₃, rT₃ and TSH concentrations were normal in all children. Our results suggest that peripheral monodeiodination of T₄ in untreated diabetic children results in an increased production of rT₃ while that of T₃ is reduced. This inverse relation of degradation changes to normal shortly after onset of therapy.

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