Thyrotropin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in elderly patients with and without acute illness

P. Finucane, T. Rudra, R. Hsu, R. Newcombe, M. S.J. Pathy, M. F. Scanlon, J. S. Woodhead

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The response of thyrotropin (TSH) to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) was measured in 70 clinically euthyroid elderly patients who were acutely ill and in 70 age- and sex-matched euthyroid controls who were free of acute disease. The incremental TSH response (ΔTSH) was often blunted (< 2 mU/1) in both groups, though more often in those with acute illness (30%) than in those without (19%). However, in patients from both groups who had a blunted ΔTSH, there was often a substantial proportional rise in TSH. A substantial proportional TSH rise may be useful in differentiating between genuine thyroid disease and euthyroid sick syndrome in elderly patients with a blunted ΔTSH.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)85-89
Number of pages5
JournalAge and Ageing
Volume20
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 1991
Externally publishedYes

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