title: Relationship of thyroid hormone levels to the severity of the narcotic withdrawal syndrome.
abstract: Serum T3, T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were evaluated in 24 neonates of mothers taking methadone and compared with 16 normal controls using cord serum and serum taken on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 14. Patients were divided into treated (Rx; n = 14) and not treated (No Rx; n = 10) groups based on withdrawal scores and correlated to thyroid hormone levels. T4 levels were greater in the Rx group when compared to controls on days 2, 4 and 7 (p less than 0.01) and when compared to the No Rx group on days 3 and 7 (p less than 0.005). No Rx patients had higher T4 levels when compared to controls on day 4 (p less than 0.05). In general T3 levels paralleled T4 results. TSH levels were decreased in the Rx group compared to No Rx and controls on day 2 (p less than 0.01). Lipsitz scores correlated with T4 levels on days 3, 4, and 7 in methadone patients (p less than 0.05) but did not correlate with T3 or TSH. These findings suggest a correlation between the severity of withdrawal symptoms and T4 and T3 levels.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine; D008691:Methadone