Thyroid Hormone Profile in Children with Sepsis: Does Euthyroid Sick Syndrome Exist?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Alterations in peripheral thyroid hormone metabolism play an eminent role in the development of the euthyroid sick syndrome. Altered solvation may also lead to changes in peripheral thyroid hormones. Data on thyroid hormones in critically ill children remain unclear.

AIM: This study was aimed to evaluate thyroid hormone profile in children with sepsis as well as to assess the association between thyroid level and sepsis outcome.

METHODS: An observational cohort study was conducted in 80 children with sepsis from October 2015 to January 2016 in Haji Adam Malik General Hospital. T3 and T4 level were measured on day 1 and after > 72 hours of sepsis diagnosed.

RESULTS: We recorded length of stay in PICU, patient outcome and analysed the relationship with the chi-square test. Level of T3 and T4 were decreased on day 1 in pediatric sepsis. Of 80 subjects, 57 (71.2%) with low-level T3 and 41 (51.2%) with low T4 were found. The relationship between T3 and T4 level on day 1 with the length of stay were not found (P = 0.500; P = 0.987). There were a significant relationship between level of T3 and T4 with outcome (P = 0.0001; OR 24.706; P = 0.014; OR 3.086). Subject with normal T3 and T4 level had 24 and 3 times life chances compare to lower level.

CONCLUSION: The Euthyroid Sick Syndrome in children with sepsis does exist. There was a significant relationship between T3 and T4 level on day 1 with patient outcome.