Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Postgraduate Medical Journal logoLink to Postgraduate Medical Journal
. 1969 Oct;45(528):659–663. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.45.528.659

Sodium, potassium and water metabolism in myxoedema

Ivor Surveyor
PMCID: PMC2466845  PMID: 5358382

Abstract

In a combined radioactive isotope study, Nae, Ke, bromine space and total body water were measured in a group of fourteen hypothyroid subjects. These were compared with a ‘control’ group.

Total body water and Nae were found to be increased in the hypothyroid subjects.

In seven subjects, the measurements were repeated after treatment with thyroid hormone. Most of the subjects lost weight and showed a decrease in total body water, but changes in Nae, Ke and bromine space were variable.

The cause and nature of the fluid and electrolyte retention in myxoedema are discussed and reasons are advanced for the apparent inconsistencies in the results obtained in this and other studies.

Full text

PDF
659

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. AIKAWA J. K. The nature of myxedema: alterations in the serum electrolyte concentrations and radiosodium space and in the exchangeable sodium and potassium contents. Ann Intern Med. 1956 Jan;44(1):30–39. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-44-1-30. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. ASPER S. P., Jr, SELENKOW H. A., PLAMONDON C. A. A comparison of the metabolic activities of 3,5,3-L-triiodothyronine and L-thyroxine in myxedema. Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp. 1953 Sep;93(3):164–198. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BAKER S. M., HAMILTON J. D. Capillary changes in myxedema. Lab Invest. 1957 May-Jun;6(3):218–226. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. BREWER D. B. Myxoedema: an autopsy report with histochemical observations on the nature of the mucoid infiltrations. J Pathol Bacteriol. 1951 Jul;63(3):503–512. doi: 10.1002/path.1700630318. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. COHEN R. D. WATER AND ELECTROLYTE METABOLISM DURING THE TREATMENT OF MYXOEDEMA. Clin Sci. 1963 Oct;25:293–304. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. CRISPELL K. R., PARSON W., SPRINKLE P. A cortisone-resistant abnormality in the diuretic response to ingested water in primary myxedema. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1954 Jun;14(6):640–644. doi: 10.1210/jcem-14-6-640. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. FORD R. V., OWENS J. C., CURD G. W., Jr, MOYER J. H., SPURR C. L. Kidney function in various thyroid states. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1961 May;21:548–553. doi: 10.1210/jcem-21-5-548. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. GOLDBERG M., REIVICH M. Studies on the mechanism of hyponatremia and impaired water excretion in myxedema. Ann Intern Med. 1962 Jan;56:120–130. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-56-1-120. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. GOLDBERG R. C., CHAIKOFF I. L. Myxedema in the radiothyroidectomized dog. Endocrinology. 1952 Jan;50(1):115–123. doi: 10.1210/endo-50-1-115. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. HUBBLE D. Endocrine relations. Lancet. 1955 Jan 1;268(6853):1–5. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(55)93207-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. KOCEN R. S., ATKINSON M. Ascites in hypothyroidism. Lancet. 1963 Mar 9;1(7280):527–530. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(63)91324-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. MANCINI R. E., GARBERI J. C., DE LA BALZE F. A. Mucoproteins of the connective tissue of the skin in generalized myxedema. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1952 Aug;13(1):247–248. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. MILES D. W., SURVEYOR I. ROLE OF THE ANKLE-JERK IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF THYROID DISEASE. Br Med J. 1965 Jan 16;1(5428):158–161. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5428.158. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. MUNRO D. S., RENSCHLER H., WILSON G. M. Exchangeable potassium and sodium in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Metabolism. 1958 Mar;7(2):124–132. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. MUNRO D. S., RENSCHLER H., WILSON G. M. The assay of mixtures of sodium-24 and potassium-42 in clinical tracer studies; with particular reference to the measurement of exchangeable sodium and potassium. Phys Med Biol. 1958 Jan;2(3):239–254. doi: 10.1088/0031-9155/2/3/304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Ord W. Clinical Lecture on Myxoedema. Br Med J. 1878 May 11;1(906):671–672. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. PETTINGER W. A., TALNER L., FERRIS T. F. INAPPROPIATE SECRETION OF ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE DUE TO MYXEDEMA. N Engl J Med. 1965 Feb 18;272:362–364. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196502182720707. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. PINSON E. A., LANGHAM W. H. Physiology and toxicology of tritium in man. J Appl Physiol. 1957 Jan;10(1):108–126. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1957.10.1.108. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. RAWSON R. V., RALL J. E., PEARSON O. H., ROBBINS J., POPPELL H. F., WEST C. D. 1-Triiodothyronine versus 1-throxine; a comparison of their metabolic effects in human myxedema. Am J Med Sci. 1953 Oct;226(4):405–411. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. SHARPEY-SCHAFER E. P. Effects of Valsalva's manoeuvre on the normal and failing circulation. Br Med J. 1955 Mar 19;1(4915):693–695. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.4915.693. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. SOFFER L. J., IANNACCONE A., WIENER R., GRIBOFF S. I., EISENBERG J. Body fluids and electrolyte balance in myxedema. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1954;17(1-4):418–425. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Surveyor I., Hughes D. Discrepancies between whole-body potassium content and exchangeable potassium. J Lab Clin Med. 1968 Mar;71(3):464–472. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. VOGT J. H. Impaired water excretion capacity in primary myxoedema improved by corticosteroids, corticotrophin and thyroid substitution. Acta Endocrinol (Copenh) 1960 Oct;35:277–292. doi: 10.1530/acta.0.xxxv0277. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. WIENER R., IANNACCONE A., EISENBERG J., GRIBOFF S. I., LUDWIG A. W., SOFFER L. J. Influence of hormone therapy of body fluids, electrolyte balance and mucopolysaccharides in myxedema. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1955 Sep;15(9):1131–1140. doi: 10.1210/jcem-15-9-1131. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Postgraduate Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES