[Thyroid function in patients with kidney insufficiency requiring hemodialysis (author's transl)]

In 43 hemodialysis patients different thyroid function parameters have been assessed. A characteristic combination of findings occurred in most cases. These were reduced values of total hormones in serum with normal free hormone levels. There was a reduced occupation of binding valences for TBG and a subnormal TSH. The TSH-TRH tests were normal. These changes in serum concentration can be explained at best by accepting a modulation of binding valences of transport proteins in the sense of reduced binding affinity. The various possible inducing mechanisms are discussed and the high sensitivity of binding valences to changes of the acid-alkaline equilibrium and temperature underlined. Both factors may play a role in uremic patients. Since not only in uremic patients but also in patients with various other diseases such changes in serum level can be demonstrated, there is a good chance that different mechanisms induce the same effect.