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World Journal of Emergency Medicine ›› 2014, Vol. 5 ›› Issue (4): 270-274.doi: 10.5847/wjem.j.issn.1920-8642.2014.04.005

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Thyroid hormone alterations in trauma patients requiring massive transfusion: An observational study

Toru Hifumi1(), Ichiro Okada2, Nobuaki Kiriu2, Eiju Hasegawa2, Tomoko Ogasawara2, Hiroshi Kato2, Yuichi Koido2, Junichi Inoue3, Yuko Abe1, Kenya Kawakita1, Masanobu Hagiike1, Yasuhiro Kuroda1   

  1. 1Emergency Medical Center, Kagawa University Hospital, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kita, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan
    2Division of Critical Care Medicine and Trauma, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, 3256 Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo, 190-0014, Japan
    3Division of Critical Care Medicine and Trauma, Yamanashi Prefectural Central Hospital, 1-1-1 Fujimicho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400-8506, Japan
  • Received:2014-05-20 Accepted:2014-10-09 Online:2014-12-15 Published:2014-12-15
  • Contact: Toru Hifumi E-mail:hifumitoru@gmail.com

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Although non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) is considered a negative prognostic factor, the alterations in free triiodothyronine (fT3) levels in trauma patients requiring massive transfusion have not been reported.
METHODS: A prospective observational study comparing 2 groups of trauma patients was conducted. Group M comprised trauma patients requiring massive transfusions (>10 units of packed red blood cells) within 24 hours of emergency admission. Group C comprised patients with an injury severity score >9 but not requiring massive transfusions. Levels of fT3, free thyroxine (fT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were evaluated on admission and on days 1, 2, and 7 after admission. The clinical backgrounds and variables measured including total transfusion amounts were compared and the inter-group prognosis was evaluated. Results are presented as mean±standard deviation.
RESULTS: Nineteen patients were enrolled in each group. In both groups, 32 were men, and the mean age was 50±24 years. In group C one patient died from respiratory failure. The initial fT3 levels in group M (1.95±0.37 pg/mL) were significantly lower than those in group C (2.49±0.72 pg/mL; P<0.01) and remained low until 1 week after admission. Initial inter-group fT4 and TSH levels were not significantly different. TSH levels at 1 week (1.99±1.64 µIU/mL) were higher than at admission (1.48±0.5 µIU/mL) in group C (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Typical NTIS was observed in trauma patients requiring massive transfusions. When initial resuscitation achieved circulatory stabilization, prognosis was not strongly associated with NTIS.

Key words: Non-thyroidal illness syndrome, Massive transfusion, Trauma, Free triiodothyronine, Thyroid hormone