Glucagon infusion test in hypothyroidism before and after T[3] therapy

T twenty primary hypothyroid patients and ten control subjects were studied. They were all subjected to: intravenous glucagon infusion test to study the response of their blood glucose. Also I.V. lgucose tolerance test was performed to estimate the glucose disappearance rate [Kg. value]. The same tests were repeated in hypo thyroid patients after triiodothyronine [T[3]] therapy. A supernormal response of blood glucose level was observed in hypothyroid patients before treatment. This finding was attributed to increased tissue glucose utilisation. Decreased secretion and increased glucagon degradation were also suggested. The response to glucagon infusion and the tissue glucose utilisation were normalised after T[3] therapy