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Thyroid Dysfunction in the Critically Ill

last updated: November 8, 2016

Orlando Debesa

Euthyroid Sick Syndrome (aka Non-thyroidal illness)

- the thyroid is not the problem (eg. treat underlying problem)

- when someone is sick you don't need thyroid hormone, so T4 is dumped into rT3 (inactive form)

  • TSH: normal / low

  • FT4: normal / low

  • T3: very low

  • rT3: high (hallmark)

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TSH values during critical illness

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