Microcalorimetric measurements of heat production in human erythrocytes. II. Hyperthyroid patients before, during and after treatment.

Heat production has been measured in erythrocytes of 17 hyperthyroid patients both before treatment and when the patients had become clinically euthyroid. The decrease in heat effect during treatment was significant. The initial mean value was significantly higher than the corresponding value for normal subjects. A good correlation was found between heat effect values and the clinical condition. Measurement of heat production in erythrocytes can provide useful information about the peripheral effect of thyroid hormones.