Abstract:
Serum levels of free T
3(FT
3), free T
4(FT
4), total T
3(TT
3), total T
4(TT
4) and TSH
IRLA were measured in 43 and 67 normal subjects, 35 uremic patients (conservative 14, hemodialysis ones 21). Significamly lowered mean serum FT
3, FT
4 and TT
3 but normal T
4 and TSH
IRMA were observed in untreated uremic and hemodialysis ones, although all the subjects were euthyroid. The rates of low FT
3, FT
4, TT
3 and TT
4 were 37.5, 42.9, 50 and 21% in conservative uremic patients and 81, 38.1, 61.9 and 14.2% in hemodialysis patients respectively. The postdialysis TSH
IRMA level was significantly reduced and FT
3, FT
4, TT
3 and TT
4 were unchanged after transient hemodialysis. There was no change of the rates of low FT
3, FT
4, TT
3 and TT
4 in the couse of maintained dialysis.
The conclusion is that FT
3, FT
4, TT
3 and TT
4 are lowered in parts of conservative uremic and hemodialysis patient but TSH
IRMA is normal or only slightly low. The thyroid function of them is most likely normal (euthyroid). TSH
IRMA is a useful index in diagnosing hypothyroidism in uremic and hemodialysis patients. Transient and maintained hemodialysis do not dramaticaly change the thyroid hormone and TSH
IRMA levels.