Thyroid hormones and the liver.

Close relationships exist between the liver and the thyroid. The liver is important in the transport, metabolism, storage and excretion of thyroid hormones as well as being an important site for hormone activity. Liver disease alters thyroid function and thyroid function tests at all levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-peripheral axis. Since thyroid disorders occur more frequently than expected in certain kinds of liver disease, awareness of the limitations of thyroid function tests in this situation are necessary. Drugs active in controlling hyperthyroidism may themselves cause liver disease due to hypersensitivity, but have also been used in treatment of alcoholic hepatitis. Clearly, these areas will stimulate further basic and clinical research.