Liver volume, portal vein flow, and clearance of indocyanine green and antipyrine in hyperthyroidism before and after antithyroid treatment.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to examine liver volume, portal vein flow, and indocyanine green (ICG) and antipyrine clearance in hyperthyroidism before and after antithyroid drug treatment.


METHODS
Liver volume and blood flow in the portal vein were investigated in nine fasting patients with hyperthyroidism by means of computed tomography scan and Doppler ultrasound, respectively. ICG clearance was estimated by bolus injection of ICG (0.5 mg/kg body weight) and antipyrine clearance with a one-sample technique. All patients were investigated before and after 3 months of antithyroid treatment, when euthyroidism had been achieved. The Wilcoxon matched-pairs test was used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
The median liver volume increased by 238 (155-289) ml (median, 95% confidence interval), corresponding to 19%, and the weight by 5.0 (0.0-8.0) kg (8%), and the antipyrine clearance decreased by 8 (3.1-34.4) ml/min (16%). These changes were all significant (P < 0.05). The relation between liver volume and body weight increased from 19.9 (16.5-23.7) ml/kg to 21.4 (17.1-21.9) ml/kg (P = 0.11). The liver blood flow as estimated by ICG clearance and Doppler ultrasound was not altered significantly after the treatment period (P = 0.07 and 0.77, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The liver volume increased by 19% in nine hyperthyroid patients during treatment with antithyroids. Antipyrine clearance was reduced by 16%, whereas liver blood flow, as estimated by ICG clearance and Doppler ultrasound examination of portal vein flow, was not significantly altered. A differential regulation of liver volume and oxidative metabolic capacity in hyperthyroidism was seen.
Andersen
V
V
Dept. of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Herlev Hospital, Denmark.
Sonne
J
J
Court-Payen
M
M
Sletting
S
S
Prip
A
A
Mølholm Hansen
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000983:Antipyrine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D000983:Antipyrine