[Glucose tolerance disorders in patients with hypothyroidism].

Altogether 42 patients with hypothyrosis of different etiology (aged 17 to 57) were investigated. According to the results of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) all the patients were divided into 3 groups: normal OGTT, disturbed OGTT and a flat type of glycemic curves. High levels of cortisol and free fatty acids (FFA) were detected in persons with disturbed OGTT. A lowered reaction to insulin was found in 15 patients with high levels of cortisol and FFA. Persons with unchanged sensitivity to insulin demonstrated a normal type of OGTT and normal blood levels of cortisol and FFA, and among patients with a low reaction to insulin there were persons with disturbed OGTT and high blood levels of cortisol and OGTT. Positive correlation was found between OGTT disturbances, on the one hand, and lowered sensitivity to insulin, increased blood levels of cortisol and FFA, on the other hand. A conclusion has been made that one of the causes of GTT disturbance in patients with hypothyrosis is an increase in the blood levels of cortisol and FFA and a decrease of sensitivity to insulin.