title: [The effect of a beta blocker on various manifestations of hypermetabolism and hypersympathicotonia].
abstract: The possible mechanism and the therapeutic activity of a beta-blocking drug (propranolol) in 50 patients with slight "hyperthyroidism" or "dysthyroidism" are examined. In most cases, the laboratory findings were :1) increase (sometimes considerable) of basal metabolism (up to 70% or more); 2) normal, or nearly normal, thyroid scan, iodoproteinaemia, T3 and T4; 3) therapeutic iodine improvement. Prior to the introduction of scanning, these cases would have been classed as "hyperthyroidism" or "dysthyroidism". Observation of a normal scan picture, however, throws doubt on such a diagnosis. Cases have, in fact, been noted in which the syndrome was accompanied by normal RU T3, but a marked increase in RIA T3. Since the latter is five times more active, it might be supposed that its increases was responsible for the symptoms, i.e. there could be an increase in T3 activity, even though its quantity was still within normal limits. In other words, there may be cases of genuine hyperthyroidism due to such a proportional rise in RIA T3. Propranolol had a beneficial effect on a series of manifestations that can be described as "hyperthyroidism" or "hypersympathicotonia".
mesh_terms: D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000032:analysis; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D011433:Propranolol; D013974:Thyroxine
vernacular_title: Osservazioni sull'azione di un betabloccante su di alcune manifestazioni di ipermetabolismo e di ipersimpaticotonia.