SPORADIC NON-TOXIC GOITRE: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE HYPOTHALAMIC–PITUITARY–THYROID AXIS

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Abstract
Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) tests were carried out on 62 patients with sporadic non-toxic nodular goiter. Sixty-one percent gave a subnormal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) response but had normal plasma thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels. T3 administration suppressed 131I uptake by the thyroid adequately in 74% of these and there was normal stimulation of thyroid uptake by exogenous TSH. Prolactin (PRL) rose normally after TRH in all the TRH non-responders. Normal TSH response to TRH was restored by partial thyroidectomy and in some cases by propylthiouracil administration. These cases were truly euthyroid.