Exophthalmos and elevated thyroxine levels in association with lithium therapy
Although goiter formation and hypothyroidism are not infrequent following lithium therapy, the association of exophthalmos and/or elevated thyroxine levels with lithium is uncommon. We describe a 62 year old man who rapidly developed exophthalmos, elevated circulating thyroxine, elevated TSH levels and elevated radioiodine uptake within six weeks of reexposure to lithium carbonate. When the medication was stopped, all indices of thyroid function returned to normal and the proptosis receded from 22 to 17mm. Lithium decreases secretion of preformed thyroid hormone and the secondary elevation of TSH levels usually restores euthyroid status. We propose that in our patient, because triiodothyronine levels remained normal, the pituitary was refractory to the normal inhibitory feedback effect of thyroxine and that continued hypersecretion of TSH resulted in hyperthyroidism
- Research Organization:
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
- OSTI ID:
- 5307663
- Journal Information:
- J. Clin. Psychiatry; (United States), Vol. 42:10
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHEMOTHERAPY
SIDE EFFECTS
LITHIUM CARBONATES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
THYROID
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
HYPERTHYROIDISM
IODINE ISOTOPES
PATIENTS
THYROXINE
TSH
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
AMINO ACIDS
BODY
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
DISEASES
ENDOCRINE DISEASES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
GLANDS
HORMONES
ISOTOPES
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC IODINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
THERAPY
THYROID HORMONES
550900* - Pathology
560171 - Radiation Effects- Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology- Man- (-1987)