Abstract
Thyroid investigations were performed on 55 euthyroid patients hospitalized for chronic disease or recovering from acute illness. Three age groups were considered. Abnormalities were found only in patients over 75 years: 1) in the TRH test the maximum increase in serum TSH (δ TSHmax) was less marked and frequently delayed to 60 min, whereas the increase in T3 in 120 min (δ T3) was maintained; basal TSH was normal; 2) in 15 out of 28 cases, the pattern of circulating thyronines was abnormal showing an increase in reverse T3 a normal or decreased T3, and a rise in free T4 index beyond the normal range in 3 cases. In all cases but one, the combination of δ TSHmax and δ T3 differentiated these patients from hyperthyroids.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burrows A.W., Cooper E., Shakespear R.A., Aickin C.M., Fraser., Hesch R.D., Burke C.W. Low serum 1-T3 levels in the elderly sick: protein binding thyroid and pituitary responsiveness, and reverse T3 concentrations. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 7: 289, 1977.
Westgren U., Burger A., Ingemansson S., Melander A., Tibblin S., Wahlin E. Blood levels of 3, 5, 3′ triiodothyronine and thyroxine: differences between children, adults and elderly subjects. Acta Med. Scand. 200: 493, 1976.
Hesch R.D., Gatz J. Juppner H., Stubbe P. TBG-dependency of age related variations of thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Horm. Metab. Res. 9: 141, 1976.
Hansen J.M., Dkovsted L., Siersbaeck-Nielsen Age dependent changes in iodine metabolism and thyroid function Acta Endocrinol. (Kbh.) 79: 60, 1975.
Herrmann J., Rusche H.J., Kroll H.J., Hilger P., Krüs-kemper H.L. Free triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) serum levels in old age. Horm. Metab. Res. 6: 239, 1974.
Olsen T., Laurberg P., Weeke J. Low serum triiodothyronine and high serum reverse triio-dothyronine in old age: an effect of disease not age, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 47: 1111,1978.
Jefferys P.M., Farran H.E.A., Hoffenberg R., Fraser P.M., Hodkinson H.M. Thyroid function tests in the elderly. Lancet 1: 924, 1972.
Cuttelod S., Lemarchand-Beraud T., Magnenat P., Perret C., Poli S., Vannotti A. Effect of age and role of kidneys and liver on thyrotropin turnover in man. Metabolism 23: 101, 1974.
Sawin C.T., Hershman J.M. The TSH response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in young adult men: intra individual variation and relation to basal serum TSH and thyroid hormones. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 42: 809, 1976.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Demeester-Mirkine, N., Kutnowski, M., Futeral, B. et al. Thyroid status in elderly sick patients. J Endocrinol Invest 4, 41–44 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03349412
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03349412