Red-cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in patients with hyperthyroidism

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Abstract
In 21 hyperthyroid female patients studied on 29 occasions, high levels of red-cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) were found (5.75 .+-. 0.7 mM) which, compared to a euthyroid control group (4.88 .+-. 0.4 mM), could not be accounted for by differences in hematocrit, Hb or phosphatemia. A significant correlation was found (P < 0.05) between serum thyroid hormones and the 2,3-DPG concentration in the hyperthyroid patients. Eight of these patients were reexamined after treatment and normalization of thyroid function, showed a regression to normal 2,3-DPG values (4.81 .+-. 0.6 mM) which could not be attributed to variations in hematocrit, Hb or phosphatemia either. The shift to the right in the HbO2 dissociation curve observed in patients of this type may be due to an increase in the red-cell 2,3-DPG content.