Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of different peripheric parameters of thyroid function.

Diagnostic value of a scope of peripheric parameters of thyroid function was assessed in an unselected group of untreated patients with suspected thyroid disorder, further in untraeted selected patients (without cardiac involvement) and in treated patients. Comparison of relative values of individual tests was performed, based on relation to plasma thyroid hormone level represented by PBI. It was found that: 1. The diagnostic value of heart rate, plasma cholesterol level, B. M. R. and Hegglin's sign (T-2s interval) is of a very limited degree. 2. The diagnostic accuracy of AJT, Q-Kd interval and PEP was found to be of considerable interest even in unselected patients. Values of IRVD and D indices found for these tests are comparable and allow the immediate estimation of thyroid function in bedside diagnosis. 3. The diagnostic value of PEP could be enhanced by exclusion of patients with suspected or proved cardiac disorder or myocardial failure; this may be useful for physiologic studies. 4. While heart rate is profoundly and inconsistently influenced by beta-blockade, AJT is influenced to a minimal degree only and Q-Kd and PEP are uniformly shifted to higher values, allowing thus diagnostic evaluation during this form of treatment also. 5. As Q-Kd is considerably age-and height-dependent, AJT and PEP are believed to be the most suitable test for immediated clinical diagnosis.