The measurement of fecal thyroxine in the diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis factitia

Thyroid. 1993 Summer;3(2):101-3. doi: 10.1089/thy.1993.3.101.

Abstract

Two patients with prolonged thyrotoxicosis are presented with low radioiodide uptake, low-normal serum thyroglobulin concentrations, and low iodide content of the neck on x-ray fluorescence studies. The surreptitious intake of thyroid hormone was directly proven by a high fecal concentration of T4 (12.38 and 23.99 nmol/g) compared with low concentrations in healthy subjects (1.03 +/- 0.64 nmol/g; mean +/- SD, n = 6) and in patients with hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease (1.93 +/- 1.86; n = 8). Fecal thyroid hormone measurement may help to provide formal proof of factitious thyrotoxicosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Feces / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iodine / analysis
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Thyroglobulin / analysis
  • Thyrotoxicosis / diagnosis*
  • Thyrotoxicosis / metabolism
  • Thyroxine / analysis*
  • Thyroxine / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Thyroglobulin
  • Iodine
  • Thyroxine