triiodothyronine--reverse and Leukemia

The concentrations of thyroid function determinants may change during severe illness. Our goal was to quantify their changes in children with cancer during chemotherapy, and to correlate them to clinical condition and type of drugs.. During a 3-month period all patients admitted for chemotherapy to the paediatric oncology ward were evaluated for inclusion. Patients with brain tumours, neuroblastoma (cranio)spinal irradiation and use of dexamethasone before the first blood sample were excluded.. Plasma concentrations of T4, T3, rT3, thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), thyroglobulin (Tg), TSH, IGF-1, cortisol, PRL and physical well-being by means of questionnaires were measured before and during chemotherapy.. In 19 children, 46 courses of chemotherapy and 123 plasma samples were analysed. During chemotherapy, mean concentrations of TSH, T3, Tg and cortisol decreased to 53, 67, 69 and 15% of the baseline value, respectively. Mean plasma rT3 increased to 217% of baseline. In 87% of all courses, one or more thyroid parameter(s) was aberrant. Furthermore, in 23 samples (19%) from 10 patients (53%), the concentration of IGF-1 was below the reference value (adjusted for sex and age). Small changes were seen in scores for clinical condition but none was related to a change in thyroid function determinant. Most changes in thyroid hormones could be attributed to using dexamethasone.. These results demonstrate that, in children, thyroid hormone state changes significantly during chemotherapy, apparently not related to physical well-being but to the drugs administered. Future investigations should focus on the impact for patient care and possibilities of (preventive) intervention.

Topics: Adolescent; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bone Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Glioma; Health Status; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Leukemia; Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell; Male; Neoplasms; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Prolactin; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Sarcoma, Ewing; Spinal Cord Neoplasms; Thyroglobulin; Thyroid Hormones; Thyrotropin; Thyroxine; Thyroxine-Binding Proteins; Triiodothyronine; Triiodothyronine, Reverse

We studied the incidence of thyroid function abnormalities observed soon after allogeneic bone marrow transplantations (BMT) and their predictive value on the overall prognosis. Free serum thyroxine, free serum triiodothyronine, total serum reverse triiodothyronine and serum thyrotropin levels were systematically measured in 78 patients before and 3 months after BMT. 41 (52%) had normal hormone levels and 37 (48%) had abnormal ones, among whom four (5%) had peripheral compensated hypothyroidism and 33 (43%) were described as having 'euthyroid sick syndrome' (low thyroxine state, or low T3 syndrome). Two factors strongly influenced the appearance of thyroid abnormalities: steroid dose at the time of thyroid function testing, and age (< or = 16 years/ > 16 years). Among the younger patients, 21 had no thyroid abnormalities, while five did. Among the older patients, 20 had no thyroid abnormalities, while 32 did (P < 0.001). The occurrence of thyroid abnormalities seemed to influence survival strongly, since the 30-month projected survival time was 83% for patients without abnormalities whereas it was 49% for patients with an abnormal profile (P < 0.001). In conclusion, evidence obtained among our population reveals that euthyroid sick syndrome indicates a poor prognosis and that it is very important to monitor thyroid hormone levels (particularly free hormones) soon after allogeneic BMT and regularly thereafter.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Child; Child, Preschool; Euthyroid Sick Syndromes; Female; Graft vs Host Disease; Humans; Incidence; Leukemia; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Survival Analysis; Thyrotropin; Triiodothyronine, Reverse

The present report describes our data regarding changes of endocrine parameters after total body irradiation (TBI) and bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Endocrine glands are usually resistant to irradiation under morphological aspects. But new methods of determination and sensitive tests were developed in the last few years. Now it is possible to detect already small functional changes. Endocrine studies in the course of the disease were followed serially at 16 patients with TBI and BMT. Pretransplant conditioning consisted of single-dose irradiation combined with a high-dose, short-term chemotherapy. Reactions of the endocrine system showed a defined temporary order. Changes of ACTH and cortisol were in the beginning. The pituitary-adrenal cortex system responds in a different way. The pituitary-thyroid system develop a short-term "low-T3-syndrome" reflecting the extreme stress of the organism. At the same time we obtained an increase of thyroxine. Testosterone and luteotropic hormone, the sexual steroids showed levels representing a primary gonadal insufficiency. The studies in the posttransplant period yielded a return to the normal range at most of the hormonal levels with the exception of the sexual steroids. Sterility is one of the late effects of TBI. A tendency towards hypothyroidism could be noticed in some cases being only subclinical forms. Reasons and possible therapy are discussed.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Adult; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Endocrine System Diseases; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Leukemia; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Testosterone; Thyrotropin; Thyroxine; Triiodothyronine; Triiodothyronine, Reverse; Whole-Body Irradiation