All issues > Volume 32(3); 1989

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1989;32(3):381-389. Published online March 31, 1989.

A Study on the Thyroin Function Test in Patients with Nonthyroidal Illness.

Mi Soo Ahn¹, Chan Young Kim²

¹Department of Pediatrics, Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital, Pusan, Korea
²Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, Korea

Received: June 23, 1988;  Accepted: September 22, 1988.

Abstract

To evaluate the influence of nonthyroidal illnesses on the thyroid function in children, serum T₃ , T₄, rT₃ and TSH were measured using radioimmunoassay in 32 clinically euthyroid children with nonthyroidal illness who were admitted to Department of Pediatrics, Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital from October, 1987 to April, 1988 Control group was 22 children in absence of thyroid diseases and systemic illnesses. The results of the study were as follows: 1) Mean serum T₃ concentration was significantly lower in patient group (93.1±54.0 ng/dl) than in the control group (138.8±19.9 ng/dl), and 53.1 % of the patients T₄ was lower than in normal T₃ group, but TSH was similar in both groups. 2) Mean serum T₄ concentration was slightly but not significantly lower in patient group (9.5 3.9 ug/dl) than in the control group (10.1±1.7 ug/dl), and in 65.5% of the patients T₄ was within normal range. There was no significant differences in each disorder. 3) Mean serum rT₃ concentration was significantly higher in the patient group (650.3±424.0 pg/ml) than in the control group (216.2±76.5 pg/ml), and in 78.1 % of the patients rT₃ was above the normal range. There was no significant differences in each disorder. 4) Mean serum TSH concentration was not significantly differently the patient group (2.1±1.4 ulu/ ml) with that of the control group (2.6±1.0 ulu/ml). There was no significant differences in each with that of the control group (2.6±1.0 ulu/ml). There was no signifinant differences in each disorder.

Keywords :Nonthyroidal illness, Thyroid Function Test