Thyroid gland volume and thyroid function during and after acute hepatitis infection.

Thyroid function, the occurrence of goiter, and ultrasonically determined thyroid gland volume were investigated in 23 consecutive nonalcoholic patients with acute viral hepatitis during and six months after recovery, and compared with data obtained from 23 matched controls. Seven patients had clinically detectable goiter during disease, but only one after recovery (P less than 0.05). Median thyroid volume was 28 mL (range 15 to 42 mL) compared with 18 mL (range 12 to 27 mL) after recovery (P less than 0.001), and 17 mL (range 11 to 24 mL) in the controls (P less than 0.001). During acute hepatitis, serum levels of thyroxine, thyroxine binding globulin, and free thyroxine index were significantly increased while triiodothyronine and thyrotropin levels were unaltered and triiodothyronine resin uptake and free triiodothyronine index levels were decreased. After recovery all thyroid variables were normalized. In conclusion, acute liver disease was associated with a marked increase in thyroid volume, but the study did not clarify the mechanism underlying thyroid enlargement.