Thyroid hormones and thyroglobulin autoantibodies in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

Serum T4, FT4, T3, and TSH were measured in a group of children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and a control group. In the insulin dependent diabetes mellitus group, serum T3 concentration was significantly lower than the control values. Serum T4, FT4 and TSH level did not differ. The difference in serum T3 concentration was significant between diabetic children with good or poor control. Thyroglobulin antibodies were investigated in diabetic children by Serono's "hTg antibodies" kit. Thyroglobulin antibodies were present in 14.5%. TSH concentration did not differ in antibody positive and negative cases, but one child with diabetes had evidence of moderately impaired thyroid reserve.