131I对男性甲状腺功能亢进症血清性激素及甲状腺球蛋白水平影响研究

目的:探讨~(131)I对男性甲状腺功能亢进症患者血清性激素及甲状腺球蛋白水平的影响。方法:收集我院收治的男性甲状腺功能亢进症患者74例,随机分为对照组和实验组,每组各37例,对照组患者给予他巴唑口服,20-30 mg/次,每日口服1次。实验组患者在对照组基础上给予~(131)I治疗。治疗结束后,检测并比较两组患者血清游离三碘甲状腺素(FT3)、游离甲状腺素(FT4)、促甲状腺激素(TSH)、睾酮(T)、雌二醇(E2)、甲状腺球蛋白(TG)水平的变化以及临床疗效。结果:与治疗前相比,两组患者血清FT3、FT4、T、E2、TG水平均显著下降,TSH水平明显升高(P0.05);与对照组相比,实验组患者血清FT3、FT4、T、E2、TG水平较低,TSH水平以及临床治疗有效率较高(P0.05)。结论:~(131)I能够显著降低男性甲状腺功能亢进症血清FT3、FT4、T、E2、TG水平,升高TSH水平,临床效果较好。     

碘131与他巴唑治疗甲状腺功能亢进症的临床疗效比较

目的:观察和比较碘131与他巴唑治疗甲状腺功能亢进症的临床疗效及安全性。方法:选取2012年1月至2016年1月于我院确诊并治疗的甲状腺功能亢进患者282例,根据随机数字表法分为碘131治疗组和药物治疗组,碘131治疗组采用131I进行治疗,药物治疗组采用他巴唑口服治疗。比较两组患者的临床疗效,治疗前后血清TSH(thyroid stimulating hormone,促甲状腺激素)、FT(free triiodothyronine,游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸)、FT4(free thyroxine concentration assay,血清游离甲状腺素)水平及TRAb(TRAB thyrotropin receptor antibodies,促甲状腺激素受体抗体)阳性率的变化及治疗期间不良反应的发生情况(心功能、肝功能、肾功能、甲状腺功能下降、白细胞减少),并对患者进行6个月的随访,记录和比较患者甲亢复发情况。结果:治疗后,碘131治疗组的总有效率为92.9%,显著高于药物治疗组(64.5%,P0.05);两组患者血清TSH水平较治疗前显著升高,而血清FT3、FT4水平及TRAb阳性率均较治疗前显著降低(P0.05),且碘131治疗组血清TSH水平明显高于碘131治疗组,而血清FT3、FT4水平及TRAb阳性率明显低于碘131治疗组(P0.05);碘131治疗组复发率及总不良反应发生率均明显低于药物治疗组(P0.05)。结论:碘131对甲状腺功能亢进症的疗效优于他巴唑口服治疗,可明显增加血清TSH水平,降低血清FT3、FT4水平及TRAb阳性率,且患者复发率及不良反应发生率均较低。     

左甲状腺素联合碘131对甲状腺功能亢进症患者甲状腺体积、TR-Ab和TPOAb水平的影响

目的:研究左甲状腺素联合碘131对甲状腺功能亢进症患者甲状腺体积、促甲状腺激素受体抗体(Thyrotropin receptor antibody,TR-Ab)和甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体(Thyroid peroxidase antibody,TPOAb)水平的影响。方法:选择2013年1月-2019年1月我院收治的68例甲状腺功能亢进症患者,随机分为两组。对照组使用小剂量(111～148 MBq)的碘131,观察组在碘131的基础上,联合服用左甲状腺素,每次12.5μg,每日1次,均治疗3个月后观察疗效及甲状腺体积、TR-Ab和TPOAb水平变化。结果:观察组治疗3个月后的有效率明显高于对照组(P0.05);治疗前,两组的甲状腺体积、TR-Ab和TPOAb水平无明显差异(P0.05),治疗后,两组的上述指标均明显降低(P0.05),且观察组明显低于对照组(P0.05);治疗前,两组的血清游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸(Free triiodothyronine,FT3)、促甲状腺素(Thyroxine,TSH)和游离四碘甲状腺素(Free tetraiodothyroxine,FT4)水平无明显差异(P0.05),治疗后,两组的血清FT3和FT4水平明显降低(P0.05),血清TSH水平明显升高(P0.05),观察组更加明显(P0.05);治疗前,两组的血清甲状腺球蛋白(Thyroglobulin,Tg)和半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂C(Cysteine protease inhibitor C,Cys C)水平无明显差异(P0.05),治疗后,两组的血清Tg和Cys C水平明显降低(P0.05),观察组明显低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:左甲状腺素联合碘131对甲状腺功能亢进症有确切的疗效,能有效阻碍甲状腺自身抗体产生,改善甲状腺功能,降低血清Tg和Cys C水平。     

瘿瘤消散汤联合左甲腺素钠片治疗结节性甲状腺肿的疗效观察

目的:探讨瘿瘤消散汤联合左甲腺素钠片治疗结节性甲状腺肿的临床疗效。方法:选择2013年7月到2016年2月在我院门诊治疗的120例结节性甲状腺肿患者,随机分为对照组和试验组,各60例。对照组患者给予左甲腺素钠片治疗,试验组患者给予瘿瘤消散汤联合左甲腺素钠片治疗,两组患者均治疗6个月。评价并比较两组患者临床疗效。测量并比较两组患者治疗前后甲状腺结节最大横截面积和最大直径,检测并比较两组患者治疗前后血清促甲状腺激素(TSH)、促甲状腺素受体抗体(TRAb)、游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸(FT3)及游离甲状腺素(FT4)水平。结果:试验组患者的总有效率为86.67%,明显高于对照组的66.67%(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者的甲状腺结节最大横截面积、最大直径均明显低于治疗前,并且试验组患者均明显低于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者血清TSH、TRAb及FT3水平均明显低于治疗前,并且试验组患者均明显低于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05);两组患者血清FT4水平治疗前后均无明显变化(P0.05)。结论:瘿瘤消散汤联合左甲腺素钠片治疗结节性甲状腺肿的临床疗效显著,能够明显缓解临床症状和体征,值得在临床上推广应用。     

婴儿肝炎综合征甲状腺素与Child-Pugh分级的关系

目的:肝脏是甲状腺激素降解、排泄及转化的场所,参与甲状腺结合球蛋白的合成.肝脏及肝脏疾病与甲状腺激素关系方面的文献很多,但有关婴儿肝炎综合征(infantile hepatitis syndrome,IHS)甲状腺素水平的报道很少.本文研究IHS患儿血清甲状腺素水平与Child-Pugh肝功能分级的关系,探讨甲状腺素水平对于指导肝功能的分级、评价肝脏储备功能及其预后的临床意义.方法:收集住院的IHS患儿38例,选择20例健康儿作为正常对照组.应用放射免疫法检测各组血清促甲状腺素(TSH)、游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸(FT3)、游离甲状腺素(FT4)水平.检测IHS患儿血清白蛋白(ALB)、总胆红素(TBIL)、凝血酶原时间(PT),并记录腹水、肝性脑病等临床情况,按成人Child-Pugh分级标准,将患儿分为A、B、C三级,并将Child-Pugh积分与其甲状腺功能各指标做相关性分析.结果:1、IHS组患儿血清FT3、FT4水平显著低于正常对照组(P＜0.05),TSH水平高于正常对照组水平(P＜0.05);FT3、FT4水平随Child-Pugh积分增加而下降,A、B、C三级组间比较有显著性差异(P＜0.05);TSH水平在三级组间无统计学差异(P＞0.05).2、HIS患儿的血清FT3、FT4水平与Child-Pugh积分呈负相关(r=-0.619～-0.80,P＜0.01),与TSH无相关性(P＞0.05).结论:本研究结果显示婴儿肝炎综合征患儿的血清FT3、FT4水平降低,且与其肝脏受损程度有明显的相关性,因此检测血清FT3、FT4水平,对正确评估婴儿肝炎综合征病情严重程度及其预后具有重要的参考价值.     

丹红注射液联合玻璃酸钠关节腔内注射对胫骨骨折患者血清骨性标志物水平的影响

目的:研究丹红注射液联合玻璃酸钠关节腔内注射对胫骨骨折术后血清骨性标志物水平的影响。方法:研究对象选取我院2015年5月到2016年8月间收治的胫骨骨折患者110例,所有患者均行切开复位内固定手术治疗。采用随机数字法将其分为对照组和观察组,每组各55例。对照组患者玻璃酸钠关节腔内注射治疗,观察组患者配合丹红注射液。比较两组患者的治疗疗效、治疗前后的视觉模拟评分法(VAS评分)、血清骨钙素(bone Glaprotein,BGP)、I型前胶原羧基端肽(carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen,PICP)水平的变化。结果:治疗后1、3、7天患处疼痛VAS评分均明显低于对照组(P0.05),治疗后1、2、4周观察组患者关节活动度评分均明显高于对照组(P0.05),治疗后观察组患者血清BGP、PICP水平均明显高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:丹红注射液联合玻璃酸钠关节腔内注射能够促进胫骨骨折术后骨折愈合,提高临床疗效。可能与其有效提高患者血清BGP、PICP水平有关。     

碘131 与抗甲状腺药物治疗甲亢的临床疗效比较

目的:探讨碘131(I131)和抗甲状腺药物治疗甲亢的临床疗效对比,为临床提供参考依据。方法:选择2012年1月至2014年10月我院甲状腺功能亢进患者218例,按照随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组,每组各109例患者,观察组采用碘131治疗,对照组采用抗甲状腺药物治疗。比较治疗12个月后两组患者的临床疗效、复发率和并发症,采用酶联免疫吸附法检测治疗前后血清甲状腺激素水平。结果:治疗12个月后,观察组的有效率为92.66%明显高于对照组的69.72%,观察组的复发率为2.75%明显低于对照组的13.76%,差异均有统计学意义(P0.01)。观察组的心脏病、肝功能受损及血象降低等不良反应的发生率为7.34%明显低于对照组32.11%,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。治疗后两组患者的血清甲状腺素(T4)、游离三碘甲状原氨酸(FT3)、三碘甲状原氨酸(T3)、促甲状腺激素(TSH)、游离甲状腺素(FT4)水平较治疗前降低,且观察组的降低幅度优于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:碘131治疗甲亢可提高临床疗效,降低复发率,不良反应轻,可降低血清甲状腺激素水平,,值得推广应用。     

甲状腺癌患者血清促甲状腺激素和甲状腺激素表达水平及临床意义

目的:探讨甲状腺癌患者血清促甲状腺激素和甲状腺激素表达水平及临床意义。方法:应用电化学发光方法检测甲状腺癌组、甲状腺良性病变组和正常对照组血清促甲状腺激素(TSH)和甲状腺激素(TT3、FT3、TT4、FT4)水平。结果:①血清TSH在三组中比较有统计学意义(P〈0.001),甲状腺癌组血清TSH水平(3.56±0.93ulU/ml)明显高于甲状腺良性病变组(2.82±0.70ulU/ml)和正常对照组(2.04±0.56ulU/ml);TSH与肿瘤病理分期和肿瘤大小呈正相关(P<0.05)。②血清FT3、FT4水平在三组中有统计学意义(均P〈0.001),甲状腺癌组FT3、FT4水平处于较低水平,二者均明显低于甲状腺良性病变组和正常对照组(P<0.001);FT3与肿瘤病理分期和淋巴结转移呈负相关(P<0.05)。③TT3和TT4水平在三组之间比较均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:高水平TSH可增加甲癌复发的危险性。低甲状腺激素水平在甲状腺癌形成中可能起到一定的作用,因此可以将其作为预测甲癌复发的重要指标之一。     

左甲状腺素钠片联合甲状腺片用于甲状腺癌术后TSH抑制治疗的临床效果评价

摘要 目的：探究左甲状腺素钠片联合甲状腺片用于甲状腺癌术后促甲状腺激素（TSH）抑制治疗的临床效果。方法：选择2021年1月-2022年6月本院收治的甲状腺癌手术并进行碘131清甲治疗后行TSH抑制治疗的80例患者为本次研究对象,开展动态分组法,对照组及观察组,n=40。单纯左甲状腺素钠片治疗为对照组,左甲状腺素钠片联合甲状腺片治疗为观察组。比较甲状腺功能、肝肾功能、治疗效果及不良反应。结果：治疗后,游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸（FT3）、游离四碘甲状腺原氨酸（FT4）水平,观察组及对照组均较治疗前提高,但观察组低于对照组;TSH水平,两组均较治疗前降低,且观察组较对照组低（P＜0.05）;治疗前,肌酐（Scr）、谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）水平,观察组及对照组比较无差异（P＞0.05）,治疗后,各指标水平,两组均较治疗前降低,且观察组较对照组低（P＜0.05）;观察组治疗有效率高于对照组（P＜0.05）;观察组及对照组不良反应率比较无差异（P＞0.05）。结论：左甲状腺素钠片联合甲状腺片用于甲状腺癌术后TSH抑制治疗可明显改善患者甲状腺功能,提高免疫功能及治疗效果,效果优于左甲状腺素钠片单独治疗,且安全性较高。     

不同剂量左旋甲状腺素对妊娠合并甲减患者胎儿发育的影响

目的:探讨不同剂量左旋甲状腺素对妊娠合并甲减患者胎儿发育的影响。方法:选择2012年5月至2016年6月在我院诊治的妊娠合并甲减孕妇72例作为研究对象,根据随机数字表法抽签分为观察组与对照组各36例,两组都给予左旋甲状腺素治疗,对照组应用剂量为低剂量,观察组应用剂量为高剂量,两组均治疗观察3个月,对比两组的临床疗效、治疗前后游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸(FT3)、游离甲状腺激素(FT4)、血清促甲状腺激素(TSH)水平的变化及并发症的发生情况。结果:治疗后,观察组的总有效率[97.2%(35/36)]显著高于对照组[83.3%(30/36)](P0.05),两组TSH值显著低于治疗前(P0.05),FT3与FT4值均显著高于治疗前(P0.05),且观察组的FT3、FT4值均明显高于对照组(P0.05),而血清TSH值显著低于对照组(P0.05)。治疗期间,观察组的早产、产后出血、宫内窘迫、妊娠高血压等并发症发生率为11.1%,对照组为30.6%,观察组显著低于对照组(P0.05)。所有孕妇都顺利分娩,新生儿都存活,观察组新生儿的智力发育与精神运动发育评分都显著高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:高剂量左旋甲状腺素治疗妊娠合并甲减患者的临床效果明显高于低剂量左旋甲状腺素,其可有效促进甲状腺激素分泌平衡,减少妊娠并发症的发生,促进新生儿的发育。     

不同剂量131I对分化型甲状腺癌患者摄碘率、甲状腺激素水平及生活质量的影响

摘要 目的：探讨不同剂量¹³¹I对分化型甲状腺癌（DTC）患者摄碘率、甲状腺激素水平及生活质量的影响。方法：选取2018年6月～2020年6月我院收治的DTC患者100例,均接受¹³¹I清甲治疗,根据放射剂量的不同分为小剂量组（100mci）和大剂量组（150mci）,例数均为50例。比较两组患者摄碘率、甲状腺激素水平、肝肾功能、生活质量和不良反应发生率。结果：小剂量组2 h、6 h、24 h的摄碘率高于大剂量组（P<0.05）。小剂量组的清甲率高于大剂量组（P<0.05）。两组治疗1个月后促甲状腺激素（TSH）、游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸（FT3）、甲状腺球蛋白（TG）水平下降（P<0.05）;小剂量组治疗1个月后TSH、FT3、TG水平低于大剂量组（P<0.05）。两组治疗前、治疗1个月后的组间、组内门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、碱性磷酸酶（ALP）、血清尿素（Urea）、肌酐（Cr）、尿酸（UA）水平对比,差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。小剂量组的生活质量优良率高于大剂量组（P<0.05）。小剂量组的不良反应发生率低于大剂量组（P<0.05）。结论：不同剂量¹³¹I清甲治疗对DTC患者肝肾功能无明显影响,但选用100mci剂量可提高DTC患者摄碘率,减轻对甲状腺功能的损害,同时还可提高患者的生活质量,减少不良反应发生率。     

Effect of Post-Surgical Rai Therapy on Parathyroid Function in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Objective: Radiotherapy with radioactive iodine (RAI) has become a common treatment for postsurgical differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The objective of this study was to determine the effect of RAI therapy following surgery on the function of the parathyroid glands in DTC patients.Methods: A total of 81 DTC patients who received RAI therapy after surgery were enrolled in the study. The size of the residual thyroid was detected by technetium-99m (^99mTc)-pertechnetate thyroid scan (^99mTc thyroid scan) before RAI therapy. The iodine uptake ability of residual thyroid was evaluated by iodine-131 (¹³¹I) whole-body scan (WBS). All patients were treated with an activity of 3.7 GBq (100 mCi) ¹³¹I. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), serum calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium were evaluated at 1 day before treatment, and at 1 month and 3 months after treatment.Results: The results show that there was no statistically significant difference in blood PTH level observed (P>.05) between 3 time points (pre-treatment, 1 month post-treatment and 3 months post-treatment). The serum calcium and phosphorus did not change significantly (P>.05), but serum magnesium level was elevated after treatment (P<.05). There were no significant differences between PTH changes and sex, age, scores of ^99mTc thyroid scan, scores of ¹³¹I WBS, Tumor (T) stage, and Node (N) stage.Conclusion: RAI therapy following surgery did not significantly affect parathyroid function in DTC patients.Abbreviations: ATA = American Thyroid Association; DTC = differentiated thyroid carcinoma; FT3 = free triiodothyronine; FT4 = free thyroxine; 131I = iodine-131; PTH = parathyroid hormone; RAI = radioiodine; 99mTc = Technetium-99m; TG = thyroglobulin; TNM = Tumor Node Metastasis; TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone; WBS = whole-body scan     

Optimization of 131I ablation in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma: comparison of early outcomes of treatment with 100 mCi versus 60 mCi

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the early outcomes between two groups of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) who received 60 or 100 mCi of (131)I for remnant ablation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 224 DTC patients with primary tumor > 1 cm of diameter or multifocal were randomised into prospective clinical trial. Patients with extrathyroideal extension of primary tumor and nodal metastases or M1 were not enrolled. 99 patients received 60 mCi, and 125--100 mCi of radioiodine as the first ablative dose. RESULTS: The effectiveness of thyroid ablation was evaluated after one year, during endogenous TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) stimulation, and after two years during Lthyroxine therapy. Whole body scintigraphy (WBS) was performed under thyroxine withdrawal and thyroglobulin serum level was assessed. Distant micrometastases were detected in 9.8% of patients by post-therapy WBS, 11 patients in group A treated with 60 mCi and 11 in group B treated with 100 mCi. In other patients no symptoms of persistent disease were detected. At one year follow up full remission was diagnosed in 176 patients: 76 in group A and 100 in group B. The remaining ones, 13.3% and 11.2% respectively, received the second course of (131)I for remnant ablation. There were no statistically significant differences in Tg (thyroglobulin) serum level either 12 or 24 months after 131I treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our evaluation of early efficacy of adjuvant radioiodine treatment in low risk DTC patients shows no differences between two radioiodine activities - 60 and 100 mCi in relation to thyroid ablation. Thus, the activity of 60 mCi is recommended.     

Thyroid dysfunction in adult long-term survivors after hemapoeitic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT).

Thyroid function was evaluated in 72 adult survivors (41 females and 31 males) at 16 to 56 years of age, 1.5 years mean time (range 0.2 - 9.8) after hemapoeitic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with no known prior history of thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxin levels (FT4) were determined before and after stimulation with thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). Conditioning regimens for HSCT did not include TBI. Overt hypothyroidism (basal TSH > 8 microIU/ml, FT4 < 0.8 ng/dl) was observed in 6% of male patients and 5% of female patients; subclinical hypothyroidism (basal TSH 4 - 8 microIU/ml, low normal FT4 0.8 - 1.9 ng/dl) was observed in 13% of males and 5% of females. A significant number of euthyroid patients (40% males and 54% females) with normal basal TSH and FT4 levels overresponded to TRH stimulation; the finding being statistically significant (p < 0.005). A heavy TSH response after TRH stimulation indicates compensated subclinical dysfunction of the thyroid gland. Chemotherapy-only conditioning regimens may have an adverse effect on thyroid gland function not always detected by determination of basal TSH and FT4 levels. This finding warrants long-term evaluation of thyroid function in HSCT patients.     

促甲状腺素受体抗体及白细胞介素-2、白细胞介素-6在Graves病131I治疗中的变化及临床意义

目的:研究促甲状腺素受体抗体(TRAb)及白细胞介素-2(IL-2)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)在Graves病~(131)I治疗中的变化并分析其临床意义。方法:选取2015年8月-2016年8月于我院接受~(131)I治疗的Graves病患者112例为研究对象,按照第6个月的甲状腺功能检查结果的不同分为治愈组(n=54),缓解组(n=21)和甲减组(n=37)。分别比较治疗前、治疗3个月、6个月后三组患者的甲状腺功能指标以及TRAb、IL-2、IL-6水平。结果:治疗前三组患者游离T3(FT3)、游离T4(FT4)、促甲状腺激素(TSH)水平比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),治疗3个月、6个月后三组患者FT3、FT4水平均明显低于治疗前,而TSH水平明显高于治疗前(P0.05)。治疗3个月、6个月后甲减组FT3、FT4水平均明显低于治愈组、缓解组,治愈组又明显低于缓解组,TSH水平明显高于治愈组、缓解组,治愈组又明显高于缓解组(P0.05)。治疗前三组患者TRAb、IL-2、IL-6水平比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗3个月后三组患者TRAb水平均明显高于治疗前(P0.05),治疗6个月后治愈组与甲减组患者TRAb水平与治疗前比较无统计学差异(P0.05),但缓解组患者TRAb水平高于甲减组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗3个月、6个月后,治愈组与甲减组患者IL-2、IL-6水平均低于治疗前,而缓解组高于甲减组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:TRAb、IL-2、IL-6可作为评估Graves病~(131)I治疗后的指标,通过检测三项指标治疗前后水平变化情况,从而为临床预后评估提供指导作用。     

Analysis of overall pathophysiological relationships between serum levels of TSH and thyroid hormones using a large laboratory database

Factors associated with the basal level of serum thyrotropin (TSH) were analyzed over a wide range of pathophysiological conditions by means of a large laboratory database on thyroid function. When data were analyzed two-dimensionally, serum TSH showed significant inverse correlations with total triiodothyronine (T3), free T3 index (FT3I), total thyroxin (TT4) and free T4 index (FT4I) in the order of increasing intensity. The three-dimensional analysis, however, revealed that 1) total hormone levels were actually unrelated to serum TSH when the levels of free hormone indices were held constant, 2) the relation between FT3I and TSH became obscure when the influence of FT4I was similarly removed. On the other hand, 3) the relation of FT4I with TSH was unaffected by the level of FT3I. These results suggest that free T4 is the main determinant of the serum TSH level. This study also implies that it is possible to use large amounts of laboratory data to elucidate the overall profile of a given patho-physiological system, whose structure is only partially revealed by conventional clinical or animal studies.     

Apparent increase in type I 5'-deiodinase activity induced by antiepileptic medication in mentally retarded subjects

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Thyroid function measurements in 3 mentally retarded patients treated with antiepileptic drugs (phenytoin or carbamazepine) showed normal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) responses in spite of markedly low levels of total thyroxine (T(4)), triiodothyronine (T(3)), and free thyroxine (FT(4)) concentrations; free triiodothyronine (FT(3)), as well as mean thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) concentrations were normal. The objective of the present investigations was to determine if antiepileptic medication in these patients contributed to the disparate TSH and thyroid hormone (TH) levels. METHODS: Thyroid tests and other laboratory parameters were measured by conventional techniques. RESULTS: Circulating TH changes noted in retarded patients were similar to those observed in control subjects receiving carbamazepine alone. Reverse T(3) (rT(3)) levels in all patients were either undetectable or below the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: As type I 5'-deiodinase has a higher affinity for rT(3) than T(4), an increased activity of this enzyme would enhance rT(3) deiodination and reduce serum rT(3) concentration whereas enhanced T(4) deiodination would aid in normalizing intracellular FT(3) concentration. The finding of normal serum FT(3) concentration was consistent with normal TSH response and clinical euthyroidism in both retarded and control subjects. While phenytoin-induced increase in type I 5'-deiodinase has been previously noted, the present studies demonstrate a similar effect of carbamazepine on 5'-deiodinase.