[Predictive value of the measurement of iodothyronines in the prognosis of patients with severe nonthyroidal illness].
OBJECTIVE
In order to find prognostic parameters in patients with severe diseases, we analyzed sequentially the levels of thyroid hormones.


METHODS
We measured iodothyronines (T3, T4 and rT3) in 42 patients before the admission and after the discharge in an intensive care unit. In addition, we also measured the iodothyronines in other 17 patients after the discharge.


RESULTS
Comparing the group of good outcome with the patients who died, we observed in the former group initial normal T4 levels in 76% of the patients, which were maintained in 65% of them during hospitalization and in 70% of them at the time of delivery from the intensive care unit. Patients who died, however, presented initial low T4 levels in 56% of them, decreasing values in 95% of them during hospitalization and low levels in 81% of patients at the last dosage. The combined profile of T3 and T4 also differentiated good and bad outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that serial analysis of serum levels of thyroid hormones may help the evaluation of critical care patients.
Ward
L S
LS
Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas, SP.
Maciel
R M
RM
D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality; D005067:Euthyroid Sick Syndromes / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000032:analysis; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood*; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood*
D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013974:Thyroxine