Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Total thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and thyrotropin concentrations during acute nonthyroidal illness and recovery in dogs.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 2024
- Authors:
- Corsini, Andrea et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences · Italy
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at how acute illnesses affect thyroid hormone levels in dogs that are otherwise healthy. Nineteen dogs were hospitalized for various acute illnesses, and their levels of total thyroxine (tT4), total triiodothyronine (tT3), and thyrotropin (TSH) were measured at different times during their treatment and recovery. The results showed that many dogs had low tT4 and tT3 levels when they were first admitted, but tT4 returned to normal early in recovery. However, low tT3 levels continued in most dogs even after they were discharged, and some had elevated TSH levels during recovery. The findings suggest that thyroid testing should be delayed in dogs recovering from acute illnesses, as their thyroid function may not be accurately assessed during this time.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acute illness can result in changes in serum total thyroxine (tT4), total triiodothyronine (tT3), and thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations in euthyroid dogs defined as nonthyroidal illness syndrome, but longitudinal evaluation of these hormones during the recovery phase is lacking. OBJECTIVES: To longitudinally evaluate serum tT4, tT3, and TSH concentrations during the acute phase and recovery from acute illness in dogs. ANIMALS: Nineteen euthyroid client-owned dogs hospitalized for acute illness at a veterinary teaching hospital. METHODS: Prospective longitudinal study. Serum tT4, tT3, and TSH concentrations were measured at the admission (T0), at last day of hospitalization (T1), and during the recovery phase at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after the discharge (T2, T3, T4, and T5), respectively. RESULTS: tT4 and tT3 were below the reference interval (RI) at T0 in 3 (16%) and 18 (95%) dogs, respectively; tT4 normalized in all dogs early in the recovery phase, while low tT3 persisted at the end of the study in 16 (83%) dogs. Median TSH concentrations were increased at T5 compared with T1 (0.19 ng/mL [range 0.03-0.65] vs 0.11 ng/mL [range (0.05-0.26)], mean difference = 0.09 ng/mL; P = .03). Five (26%) dogs had TSH above the RI at least at 1 time point during the recovery phase. None of the dogs had concurrent low tT4 and high TSH during the study. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In euthyroid dogs acute illness can interfere with evaluation of thyroid function up to 21 days during the recovery phase. Thyroid testing should be avoided or postponed in these dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38654457/