title: Assessment of the thyroid function of patients undergoing regular haemodialysis.
abstract: Thyroid function has been assessed in 36 clinically euthyroid patients undergoing regular haemodialysis. The influence of erythropoietin administration on the thyroid function tests has been determined. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) has been found to be elevated in 8% of the patients. Free tri-iodothyronine was below the normal range in 67% of the population. Free thyroxine (FT4) was low in 67% of the patients when tested by an analogue method. FT4 tested by a 2-stage method in a subgroup of 22 patients was abnormally low in only 23% of the patients. Erythropoietin did not seem to improve these thyroid abnormalities despite a partial correction of the anaemia. A rise in FT4 was also observed after haemodialysis without a concomitant change in TSH concentration. This FT4 elevation was attributed to the effect of heparin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goffin
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Oliveria
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raggatt
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D004921:Erythropoietin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine