18 Endocrine disease
Questions
For some time now I have been confused regarding tests for acromegaly.
Thyroxine is a peptide hormone used to treat thyroid deficiency and other thyroid disorders. It is taken orally. Peptides are broken down into amino acids before being absorbed. What factors cause the thyroxine to remain stable in the digestive tract so that it is absorbed without being digested?
In the diagnosis of Cushing’s disease using the high-dose dexametha-sone suppression test, how can the exogenous steroid suppress adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) when the grossly elevated serum cortisol levels fail to do so?