• Hao Chih Ho, Alyssa D Chapital, and Mihae Yu.
• Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Critical Care, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, and the Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, USA.
• Arch Surg Chicago. 2004 Nov 1;139(11):1199-203.

HypothesisWe hypothesized that hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency frequently occur together in critically ill patients.DesignA prospective observational study.SettingSurgical intensive care unit of a university-affiliated tertiary referral center.PatientsSixty-six consecutive patients with severe sepsis, septic shock, and hemorrhagic shock who required pulmonary artery catheterization for resuscitation were studied.InterventionsThyrotropin and baseline cortisol levels were obtained at 3 am followed by intravenous injection of 250 mug of cosyntropin, a synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone derivative. A second measurement of the cortisol level was performed 1 hour later.Main Outcome MeasuresIncidence of hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency and mortality.ResultsMean (SD) age was 62 (19) years. The mean (SD) Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 21 (5). Twenty-seven patients (40.9%) had severe sepsis, 31 (46.9%) had septic shock, and 8 (12.1%) had hemorrhagic shock. Five patients (7.6%) had hypothyroidism alone and 35 (53.0%) had only adrenal insufficiency. Eight patients (12.1%) had both hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency. All patients with endocrine abnormalities were treated. Mortality for the total group was 15 (22.7%) of 66 patients.ConclusionThere is a 12% incidence of simultaneous hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency in our study and the routine testing for both may be indicated in this population of critically ill patients.

35 keywords...

hide…