Abstract
The frequency of the euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS) was assessed in 3444 hospital patients. For the first 6 months the free thyroxine index (FTI) was used: 3·6% of 1674 patients had ESS compared with 17·3% of 1770 in the second 6 months diagnosed by a direct free thyroxine (FT4) assay ('Amerlex'). The relative frequencies of each type of ESS (low triiodothyronine [T3] only, low T3 plus low FT4 or FTI, and high FT4 or FTI with normal or low T3) and the frequencies of hypothyroidism (high TSH) and hyperthyroidism (high FTI/FT4 and T3) were similar in both periods. In the FT4 period requests for T3 assays increased by 300%. Measurements of both FT4 and in 46 patients with ESS confirmed that ESS is diagnosed more frequently with the FT4 assay: the distribution of normal and abnormal T3 and reverse T3 levels were similar in FT4 ESS and FTI ESS. FT4 is labile in illness and thus direct FT4 measurements also fluctuate, not necessarily reflecting thyroid status.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
