EUTHYROID SICK SYNDROME

Course overview

EUTHYROID SICK SYNDROME IS ALSO KNOWN AS NONTHYROIDAL ILLNESS SYNDROME AND REFERS TO CHANGES IN THYROID FUNCTION TESTS THAT WERE ADMINISTERED IN THE INPATIENT OR INTENSIVE CARE SETTING DURING CRITICAL ILLNESS. IT IS NOT A TRUE SYNDROME, AND TRANSIENT ALTERATIONS IN THE HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-THYROID AXIS ARE PRESENT IN ABOUT 75 PERCENT OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS. THIS CONDITION IS OFTEN IS SEEN IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE CRITICAL ILLNESS, DEPRIVATION OF CALORIES, AND FOLLOWING MAJOR SURGERIES. THE MOST COMMON HORMONE PATTERN IN EUTHYROID SICK SYNDROME IS A LOW TOTAL T3 AND FREE T3 LEVELS WITH NORMAL T4 AND THYROID-STIMULATING HORMONE (TSH) LEVELS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS WHEN TO CONSIDER EUTHYROID SICK SYNDROME, HOW TO EVALUATE AND MANAGE IT, AND THE CRITICAL ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL CARE TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH EUTHYROID SICK SYNDROME.