THE RELATION OF THYROIDAL HORMONE LEVEL TO EPINEPHRINE RESPONSE: A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR HYPERTHYROIDISM

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Abstract
A dose-response study of euthyroid and hyperthyroid subjects to intravenous epinephrine demonstrated a greater reactivity of the thyrotoxic population in the parameters measured. These included O2 consumption, blood pressure and heart rate. It was further demonstrated that the greater sensitivity to epinephrine in hyperthyroidism is not due to the increased metabolism of this disease. Patients with diseases associated with a high metabolic rate but normal thyroid function react to epinephrine normally. Euthyroid individuals rendered hyperthyroid by ingestion of tri-iodothyronine acquire an increased sensitivity to epinephrine similar to that found in thyrotoxic patients. These observations suggest that the level of circulating thyroid hormones is a major factor determining response to epinephrine administration. The circulatory response to an epinephrine infusion of 0.05 [mu]g/kg/min. allows a wide separation of euthyroid and hyperthyroid populations which provide a simple test for assessment of thyroid function.