Tryptophan and thyroid metabolism in tuberculosis

ABSTRACT

The levels of serum total indoles, T3, T4 and TSH were estimated in 40 tuberculous and ten normal cases of both sexes at different age groups before and after loading dose of L-tryptophan 50 mg/kg body weight. The level of serum total indoles in tuberculous patients tended to increase. On the other hand, the level of serum T3, T4 and TSH showed no significant changes between different groups studied and also no significant changes between fasting and after tryptophan load. The results provide and evidence to exclude the role of thyroid hormones as a destructive cause for ling tissue in tuberculosis