[Relation of hypothyroidism and deficiency of kidney yang]

32 cases of hypothyroidism caused by various factors were treated for one year with Chinese medicinal herbs preparation "Shen Lu tablet" (SLT) to warm and reinforce the Kidney Yang. 34 normal persons were studied as a control group. After treatment with SLT, the clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism were markedly improved. Average serum concentration of total T3, T4 increased significantly from 67.06 +/- 4.81 and 3.29 +/- 0.42 before treatment to 120.50 +/- 6.34 ng/dl and 6.31 +/- 0.38 micrograms/dl, respectively (P < 0.001). Serum levels of TSH decreased evidently from 20.81 +/- 2.78 before therapy to 3.32 +/- 0.61 ng/ml (P < 0.001). Before treatment with SLT, hypothyroidism group had higher erythrocyte sodium content ([Na]Rbc) than that of normal group. The permeability of the cell membrane oMNaos and the activity of sodium pump oKNaos in intact erythrocytes were markedly lower in the treated group than that in the normal group. In hypothyroidism patients treated by SLT the [Na]Rbc significantly dropped, and the oNNaos and oKNaos were significantly raised when compared with those before treatment, P < 0.001. It is suggested that hypothyroidism was closely related with Deficiency of Kidney Yang and energy metabolism.