title: Effects of propylthiouracil on intestinal transit time and symptoms in hyperthyroid patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gastrointestinal disturbances such as diarrhea and malabsorption with steatorrhea may show up in hyperthyroid patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate oro-caecal transit time (OCTT) and gastrointestinal symptoms in hyperthyroid patients before and after propylthiouracil administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty hyperthyroid patients (15 Females and 5 Males, mean age 47 years) were studied. Eight of them had diarrhea and 10 steatorrhea. The control group was composed of 20 healthy volunteers (13 F and 7 M, mean age 49 yrs). OCTT and fecal fat excretion were measured before and after propylthiouracil administration (300 mg/day for 10 day and then 200 mg/day for 30 days).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the treatment in hyperthyroid patients had began the mean OCTT was significantly lower than in the control group (64 min. versus 107 min; p < 0.0001). After treatment mean OCTT became similar to the controls (p = ns); diarrhea disappeared in all affected patients and mean fecal fat excretion was reduced from 7.9 gr/24h to 3.4 gr/24h, with a statistically significantly difference (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment with propylthiouracil induces the normalization of thyroid hormone status and consequently of OCTT with the disappearance of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and steatorrhea, with a better efficacy if compared to other drugs utilized in the treatment of hyperthyroidism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University S. C., Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cammarota
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tursi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Certo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montalto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Rosa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cuoco
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fedeli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000628:therapy; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000628:therapy; D005223:Fats / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013607:Tablets; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D005223:Fats; D013607:Tablets; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine