[Comparison of adrenergic activity in Graves-Basedow disease and in nodular goiter]

The 24-hour urinary excretion of dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline was determined in 27 patients with Graves-Basedow disease and 14 patients with hyperactive nodular goitre. The determinations were done before the treatment and after achieving the euthyroid state. The catecholamines were determined by the fluorimetric method which is a modification of the trihydroxyindole method. On the basis of 24-hour excretion of catecholamines with urine the activity of the sympathetic system was compared in both these diseases. No significant differences were found in this 24-hour urinary excretion of catecholamines between both groups. The obtained results suggest a similar degree of adrenergic activity in these two diseases, suggesting thus a secondary character of adrenergic stimulation in hyperthyroidism independently of its causes.