No abstract

The thyroid functional parameters of 102 children with protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) classified as undernourished, marasmic, kwashiorkor and marasmic-kwashiorkor were studied by measuring the serum T4, T3, T3 percentage uptake (T3%UT), free thyroxine index (FTI), and (in a few subjects) TSH. Total plasma proteins, albumin and globulin were also estimated. T4 was increased markedly in the undernourished children and significantly decreased in kwashiorkor and marasmic-kwashiorkor groups. There was a consistent and significant fall in T3 levels of all PCM children. From normal values, the fall in T3 levels was progressive in the order of undernourished, marasmic, kwashiorkor and the marasmic-kwashiorkor states. The T3%UT was increased above normal in the marasmic, kwashiorkor and marasmic-kwashiorkor conditions. The FTI decreased somewhat in marasmus and kwashiorkor groups and was very low in marasmic-kwashiorkor. Total protein and albumin levels were above normal in the undernourished but became markedly depressed in the marasmic-kwashiorkor children. The changes in the levels of both T4 and T3 in our observations are well correlated with the levels of plasma proteins in the undernourished, marasmic and kwashiorkor states but not in the marasmic-kwashiorkor group.

No abstract

Thyroid status was estimated serially by measuring triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and thyrotrophin (hTSH) in 20 patients suffering from meningococcal meningitis, typhoid fever and other acute febrile illnesses. Significantly low T3 and only slightly increased T4 were observed in all the patients. hTSH was normal in all of these. A significant reciprocal relationship was found between the degree of fever and fall in T3 concentrations. T3 tended to rise in patients who recovered but in those who deteriorated or died, T3 remained persistently low.