title: The burden of comorbidity and the C-reactive protein levels in nonthyroidal illness syndrome with metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular complications.
abstract: Thyroid hormones undergo significant modifications during severe illnesses, and the low T3 levels are the hallmark of nonthyoidal illness syndrome (NTIS), due to a reduced extrathyroidal conversion from T4. We examined 41 patients with NTIS by a modified cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS) and the measurement of FT3, FT4, TSH, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Fifty-seven control subjects were enrolled. We observed reduced FT3 and increased FT4 levels in NTIS patients (P < 0.05). The CIRS scores (severity and comordity index) were inversely related to FT3 and positively related to FT4 levels (P < 0.05). The CRP and the FT4 concentrations were positively associated (P < 0.01). Our study showed that the reduced FT3 and increased FT4 levels were significantly related to the comorbidity and severity of systemic illnesses, probably as a result of impairment in the peripheral hormonal conversion. The CIRS scale and the CRP are useful tools for a better evaluation of these patients.
authors.affiliation: II Faculty of Medicine, S.Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. a_martocchia@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martocchia
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cola
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frugoni
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Indiano
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Urso
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falaschi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005067:Euthyroid Sick Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein