[The thyroid hormones in alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Clinical and prognostic aspects]

The Authors confirm the clinical and prognostic importance of the measurement of circulating thyroid hormones - especially of Triiodothyronine (T3) - in evaluating the decompensated phases of alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The assay was performed in 90 patients affected by liver cirrhosis and was compared with the clinical manifestations and other laboratory test: only prothrombin time was showed to be as useful as T3 concentration in following the clinical course of cirrhosis. Low levels of tetraiodothyronine (T4) - if one can rule out the presence of hypothyroidism - are evidence for a bad impending prognosis.