[The thyroid hormones in alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Clinical and prognostic aspects]. / Gli ormoni tiroidei nelle cirrosi epatiche alcooliche. Aspetti clinici e prognostici.

ABSTRACT

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.