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Effects of chronic heroin addiction on pituitary-thyroid function in man

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 October 1980

Abstract

Pituitary-thyroid function has been studied in heroin addicts. Data have been obtained in 10 male addicts, aged 18-24 years, with histories of addiction to heroin alone lasting from 8 months to 4 years, and in 9 controls matched for sex and age. Basal plasma levels of TSH,T4 and T3 were measured. A TRH stimulation test was done, injecting 500μg of TRH iv as a bolus and assaying TSH levels before the injection and at 30 min intervals up to 2 h afterwards. The results revealed no difference between addicts and controls in basal levels of TSH,T4 and T3. The TRH stimulation test induced a blunted TSH rise in 50% of the cases. The possible mechanism of action of heroin on pituitary-thyroid axis is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinica Pediatrica, Università di Milano, via Besta 1, 20161, Milano, Italy

    Francesca Brambilla & P. Nobile

  2. Clinica medica IV, Università di Milano, 20126, Milano, Italy

    A. Zanoboni, W. Zanoboni-Muciaccia & P. L. Meroni

Authors
  1. Francesca Brambilla
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  2. P. Nobile
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  3. A. Zanoboni
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  4. W. Zanoboni-Muciaccia
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  5. P. L. Meroni
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Additional information

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF03349403.

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Brambilla, F., Nobile, P., Zanoboni, A. et al. Effects of chronic heroin addiction on pituitary-thyroid function in man. J Endocrinol Invest 3, 251–255 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03348271

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