Thyroid function in the critically ill newborn and child.
OBJECTIVE
Here we review typical thyroid function alterations observed in the critically ill pediatric patient.


RESULTS
Abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis have recently been confirmed to be prevalent in similar proportions in pediatric and adult patients. Significant benefits of therapy have yet to be demonstrated.


CONCLUSIONS
At present, there is no evidence of benefit in giving thyroid hormone to patients with nonthyroidal illness who have low serum T3 or T4 concentrations, including preterm infants and postcardiac surgery patients.
Shih
Judy L
JL
Medicine Critical Care Program, Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Agus
Michael S D
MS
D000818:Animals; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014284:Triiodothyronine