Question

Your patient has advanced stage cancer and her liver is starting to fail. One consequence is markedly reduced plasma proteins. In what way might this affect her endocrine system?

		Transport of all hormones in the blood is compromised
		No change to endocrine system function
		A reduction in the synthesis of steroid hormones by the liver
		A reduction in the rate of hydrophobic hormones like steroid and thyroid hormones reaching their target tissues.
		A reduction in the rate of peptide-type hormones reaching their target tissues.

Answer 1

Answer

Option D) A reduction in the rate of hydrophobic hormones like steroid and thyroid hormones reaching their target tissues.

• Steroid and thyroid hormones are hydrophobic. They are lipid soluble.
• Both these hormones are transported in blood bound to the plasma proteins.
• The hormones remain in inactive state in blood until they are dettached from the plasma protein.
• Hence, if plasma proteins are reduced, there will be reduction in transport of steroid and thyroid hormones.