title: Effect of thyrotoxicosis on the reflex hypoxic respiratory drive.
abstract: 1. Oxygen breath tests were performed in seven patients with thyrotoxicosis. The inspired air was replaced by oxygen without their knowledge for 20 s and the fall in ventilation was recorded. 2. Ventilation fell significantly in all the patients within 40 s. The mean fall was 21-1% (se +/-1-7) below the control value. 3. beta-Adrenoreceptor blockade with propranolol had little effect on this reduction in ventilation. The fall observed in five patients receiving propranol was 19-6% (se +/-1-0). 4. After definitive treatment, which rendered the patients euthyroid, the observed reduction in ventilation after breathing oxygen was significantly less at 11-7% (se +/-1-2). 5. It is concluded that patients with thyrotoxicosis have an increased resting reflex hypoxic drive to respiration, when compared with the euthyroid state, and this is unaffected by beta-adrenoreceptor blockade.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001944:Breath Tests; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen; D012018:Reflex; D012119:Respiration; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen