Ventilatory Control in Myxedema and Hypothyroidism

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Abstract
Alveolar hypoventilation is known to occur in myxedema. To clarify the role of hypoxic ventilatory drive and hypercapnic ventilatory drive in thyroid hormone insufficiency states, 10 patients with myxedema and seven with hypothyroidism (thyroid ablation) were studied before and after thyroid replacement. An index developed for hypoxic ventilatory drive was markedly reduced in myxedema: 17 ± 4.7 (S.E.M.) (normal, 126 ± 8.7) (p < 0.01) and increased to 78 ± 12.6 (p = 0.02) with thyroid hormone replacement. In the hypothyroid group this index was also depressed as compared to normal at 67 ± 20 (p < 0.01) and increased to 114 ± 19 (p < 0.02) with replacement.

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