Estrogen metabolism in hyperthyroidism and in cirrhosis of the liver - Which came first, the liver, the thyroid, the estrogen, or neither?

a<r Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:30 pm

My vote goes to neither, the specific neither being the intestines and other major inflammitory mediators, having already posted a study showing the guts role in liver syndromes and estrogen metabolism (liver doubling the effect as it metabolises estrogens as well) I would place a bet that this is closer to the "root".

Estrogen metabolism in hyperthyroidism and in cirrhosis of the liver

Jaime Olivo, Gary G. Gordon, F. Rafii, A.Louis Southren
Purchase
Endocrine Section of the Department of Medicine of the New York Medical College 1249 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10029 USA

Received 24 March 1975; Available online 10 January 2003.
Abstract

Estrogen metabolism was studied in spontaneous hyperthyroidism (Graves disease) and in alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. The plasma concentration of estradiol-17β (PCE2) was Increased in men with hyperthyroidism. Although the metabolic clearance rate of estradiol-17β (MCRE2) was reduced, the production rate (PR) of the steroid was increased above normal. The MCRE2 was also decreased in women with hyperthyroidism but the PCE2 and PRE2 was unchanged from normal. The conversion ratio of estradiol-17β (CRE2E1) was increased in both hyperthyroid men and women. The PCE2 was significantly increased in men with cirrhosis of the liver. The MCRE2 was normal and this resulted in an increase in the PRE2 in this disorder. The CRE2E1 was significantly higher than normal. The plasma concentration of estrone (E1) was elevated in men with both disorders.

The present study documents elevated plasma levels of E1 and E2 both in hyperthyroidism and in cirrhosis of the liver and demonstrates that the increased circulating estrogen in cirrhosis is not due to a decreased removal rate of the steroid but rather results from overproduction of the estrogen. The decreased MCR in hyperthyroidism is consistent with an important role of plasma binding protein in regulating estradiol-17β metabolism in this disorder. The normal MCR in cirrhosis suggests that factors other than plasma binding may be of significance in this disease.