title: Low T3 syndrome in patients following major surgery.
abstract: Time sequence and specificity of thyroid hormones and biochemical parameters were investigated in patients following major surgery. Serum concentration of triiodothyronine decreases significantly following operation, with a biphasic regression. There is a reciprocal change in serum reverse triiodothyronine levels, but serum thyroxine levels show no significant change after operation. The significant decrease in serum concentration of alpha-2-macroglobulin and antithrombin III during and after surgery is the result of consumption of these inhibitors because the reciprocal change in serum concentration of elastase-like protease has been recognized. According to the change of curvilinear regression of serum triiodothyronine levels, 14 patients were grouped into 3. The patients for whom the curvilinear regression resembled a polynomial of degree 3 and 2 had a good prognosis, but the remaining 4 with no significant curvilinear regression had major complications and 2 died. It is meaningful that the postoperative change of triiodothyronine levels relates to the clinical outcome, to some degree.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013577:Syndrome; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D014285:Triiodothyronine, Reverse / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D014285:Triiodothyronine, Reverse; D013974:Thyroxine