Abstract
Time sequence and specificity of thyroid hormones and biochemical parameters were investigated in patients following major surgery. Serum concentration of triiodothyronine decreases significantly following operation, with a biphasic regression. There is a reciprocal change in serum reverse triiodothyronine levels, but serum thyroxine levels show no significant change after operation. The significant decrease in serum concentration of α-2 macroglobulin and antithrombin III during and after surgery is the result of consumption of these inhibitors because the reciprocal change in serum concentration of elastase-like protease has been recognized. According to the change of curvilinear regression of serum triiodothyronine levels, 14 patients were grouped into 3. The patients for whom the curvilinear regression resembled a polynomial of degree 3 and 2 had a good prognosis, but the remaining 4 with no significant curvilinear regression had major complications and 2 died. It is meaningful that the postoperative change of triiodothyronine levels relates to the clinical outcome, to some degree.
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Tsuchiya, A., Goretzki, P.E., Gramse, M. et al. Low T3 syndrome in patients following major surgery. The Japanese Journal of Surgery 15, 285–290 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02469919
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02469919