Objective:To evaluate features and underlying pathogenesis of glucose metabolic disorder in pediatric patients with hyperthyroidism.Methods:The levels of blood glucose

insulin

c-peptide

glucagon

cortisol

T 3

T 4

TSH

TGA

TMA were measured in 29 patients with hyperthyroidism.20 normal age-matched children served as controls.In addition

fasting and post-prandial 60-minute erythrocyte insulin receptor of 14 children with hyperthyroidism and 7 normal age-matched controls were measured using insulin radioreceptor assay.Results:Incidence of glucose metabolic disorder was 34.5%.Incidence of glucose metabolic disorder in patients with more than one year course was higher compared with cases with less than one year course.In hyperthyroidism with glucose metabolic disorder

levels of glucose

insulin

insulin/glucose

insulin/glucagon at post-prandial 60 minute increased significantly.Numbers of fasting insulin receptor of high and low affinity in erythrocyte membrane were lower than post-prandial insulin receptor.Conclusion:Glucose metabolic disorder with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance are present in patients with hyperthyroidism.The longer the course of the disease

the higher the incidence of glucose metabolic disorder.The decrease in the number of insulin receptor in target cells might play an important role in the mechanisms of glucose metabolic disorder and insulin resistance in children with hyperthyroidism.