One of my relatives is ill in the intensive care unit and the doctors say the thyroid tests are abnormal, but they are not suggesting treatment with thyroid hormone-Why not?
Severe illness is associated with a large number of changes in thyroid hormone production, conversion of T4 to T3, thyroid hormone binding, and TSH secretion. Interpretation of thyroid function tests in a severely ill patient can be challenging. Several studies have been carried out to assess the merits of treating patients with abnormal lab values in the intensive care unit, without clear cut evidence of benefit. For an overview, see The controversy of the treatment of critically ill patients with thyroid hormone. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Dec;15(4):465-78.
Related Questions
- One of my relatives is ill in the intensive care unit and the doctors say the thyroid tests are abnormal, but they are not suggesting treatment with thyroid hormone-Why not?
- I have heard that serum screening tests (AFP/triple or quadruple screening) are often wrong. Why do doctors use them?
- Do thyroid function tests independently predict survival in the critically ill?
