[Thyroid hormones in alcoholic cirrhosis before and after alcohol withdrawal]

Abstract

In a controlled study, the authors have assayed the serum values of thyroid hormones, TSH, reverse T3 (rT3) and the T4/TBG ratio in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis before and after 15 days of total abstinence from alcohol. Before abstinence, they show a significant decrease of T3 and a significant increase of r T3. Only T3 values are correlated to the clinical and biological signs of liver cirrhosis. The T3 and rT3/T3 ratio allow a good evaluation of the severity of the cirrhotic condition. The study, after abstinence from alcohol, shows an improvement of both biological abnormalities and T3, rT3, rT3/T3 values. Pathogenic mechanisms of these disturbances are discussed and therapeutic prospects considered.