Value of the determination of serum thyroglobulin concentration in thyroidal dysfunction

After the brief description of the isolation and purification of thyroglobulin from the human thyroid tissue the results of thyroglobulin radioimmunoassay are described. The thyroglobulin in the serum of normal subjects was from 0 to 34 ng/ml and highly increased in thyrotoxic cases in the range from 30 to over 1000 ng/ml. The thyroglobulin secretion depended on TSH stimulation in normal cases and in non-toxic goiter. The thyroglobulin concentration determined in cases with thyrotoxicosis treated with radioactive iodine can be used for monitoring the response of the thyroid gland and could have some prognostic value for the future results of the treatment. (author)