title: Assessment of thyroid and adrenal function in patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy.
abstract: This study was performed to evaluate thyroid and adrenal function in patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy. Twenty-four patients without any clinical overt endocrinological dysfunction were studied. None of the patients showed laboratory evidences of hypo- or hyperthyroidism. A short ACTH-stimulation test was performed in 17 of the patients. A low cortisol response to ACTH stimulation, suggesting adrenocortical insufficiency, was found in four (24%) of the patients, and an intermediate response interpreted as suspected hypofunction was found in three (18%) patients. Low serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels, suggesting adrenal hypofunction, were found in six (25%) of the patients. We believe that the possibility of glucocorticoid insufficiency should always be considered in patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Olofsson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grankvist
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boman
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Forsberg
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lafvas
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lithner
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000652:urine; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013577:Syndrome; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D000450:Aldosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone