Abstract
Stroma-free hemolysate in 53 cases of morbus basedowii was examined by starch-gel electrophoresis. Hemoglobin A1, A2 and carbonic anhydrase B (CA-B) were separated, and stained with bromphenol blue. CA-B quantity was densitometrically measured, and expressed as per cent to total hemoglobin. The results were as follows: CA-B quantities of normal adults and the patients were 3.1±0.65 (mean±S.E.) per cent and 1.6±0.86 per cent, respectively. These values were obtained from the determination at 570 mμ . of wave length. CA-B quantity of the patients increased after subtotal resection of the thyroid gland and reached the almost normal level (2.7±1.14 per cent) on discharge. CA activity of the patients was slightly lower than that of normal, and positively correlated with CA-B quantity (r=0.75, P<0.001). CA-B quantity of the patients was inversely related to T3-131I resin sponge uptake value of their sera (r=-0.62, P<0.005), 131I uptake rate of the thyroid gland (r=-0.49, P<0.01) and basal metabolic rate (r=-0.55, P<0.001). Accordingly, it is considered that thyroid hormone probably reduces CA-B production, but does not inhibit CA activity in morbus basedowii, and an increase of basal metabolic rate and shortening of circulation time in the disease may be partly caused by a low level of CA-B quantity in the red cells.
