-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
ROSLYN WIENER, ANGELO IANNACCONE, JULIUS EISENBERG, SOLOMON I. GRIBOFF, ARTHUR W. LUDWIG, LOUIS J. SOFFER, INFLUENCE OF HORMONE THERAPY ON BODY FLUIDS, ELECTROLYTE BALANCE AND MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES IN MYXEDEMA, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 15, Issue 9, 1 September 1955, Pages 1131–1140, https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-15-9-1131
Close - Share Icon Share
MYXEDEMA is characterized by the extracellular deposit of large quantities of myxomatous material. This substance is present in both primary and pituitary myxedema (2), as well as in the circumscribed myxedema associated with thyrotoxicosis (3). By virtue of its rich content of acid-mucopolysaccharide (3), it would appear to be abnormally expanded ground substance, and hence to exert the water and electrolyte binding capacity of the latter (4). Thus it would be expected to play an important role in the fluid economy of the myxedematous individual. An early study by Byrom (5) documented a saline diuresis following the administration of desiccated thyroid to 2 myxedematous subjects. The assumption was made that the fluid and sodium were derived from the extracellular compartment.
It was our feeling that a serial study of body fluid compartments and electrolyte balances, in conjunction with serum and urinary mucopolysaccharides might provide some insight into the readjustment made in the myxedematous individual in response to specific therapy. Observations were also made during the administration of cortisone, an agent known to influence body fluid distribution (6), and known to exert an effect on connective tissue mucopolysaccharide (7). Received for publication December 22, 1954.
