Syndrome of'inappropriate secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone' by partial target organ resistance to thyroid hormones

Abstract

Abstract. A 74 year old woman was found to have elevated serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and elevated serum thyroid hormone levels, with clinical euthyroidism. There was no evidence of a pituitary tumour. TSH levels increased substantially during methimazole therapy. Administration of dexamethasone was followed by a prompt fall in serum TSH levels. Triiodothyronine (T3) was administered over a period of 20 days in doses from 25 μg to as much as 100 μg daily causing a rise in serum T3 above 700 ng/100 ml, a decline of T4 and a blunting of the response to thyrotrophinreleasing hormone (TRH), with normal metabolic responses (pulse rate, photomotogram, cholesterol). These results suggest that the patient's disorder is due to partial target organ resistance to thyroid hormones.