Related Experiment Videos
Selenium deficiency and thyroid function in acute renal failure
W Makropoulos1, B Heintz, I Stefanidis
1Institut für Arbeitsphysiologie an der Universität Dortmund, Germany.
Renal Failure
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Selenium levels and thyroid hormone metabolism were studied in acute renal failure patients. Low selenium correlated with reduced thyroid hormones and severe organ dysfunction, suggesting selenium
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Nephrology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Acute renal failure (ARF) is highly lethal, often due to multiorgan dysfunction.
- Critically ill ARF patients frequently exhibit reduced thyroid hormone levels without clinical hypothyroidism.
- Selenium plays a crucial role in thyroid hormone metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of selenium on thyroid hormone metabolism in ARF.
- To correlate thyroid metabolism changes with multiorgan failure severity and clinical course.
Main Methods:
- Measured thyroxine (T4), tri-iodothyronine (T3), free-T4, free-T3, thyrotropin (TSH), serum creatinine, and plasma selenium in 28 ARF patients.
- Monitored these parameters every 3 days post-admission.
- Compared values with normal controls and correlated with clinical outcomes and organ dysfunction severity.
Main Results:
- Plasma selenium concentrations were significantly reduced in ARF patients.
- 50-70% of patients presented with low T4, T3, free-T3, and free-T4, despite normal TSH.
- Lower selenium levels correlated with increased organ failure and reduced T4/free-T4 levels.
Conclusions:
- ARF patients exhibit altered thyroid hormone levels without elevated TSH, potentially linked to reduced selenium.
- Selenium levels appear to influence thyroid hormone concentrations in ARF.
- Increasing T4 during treatment may indicate a favorable prognosis in ARF.