Research Update CHF EY3 02686-A: Pattern of Thyroid Function Tests during Recovery from Acute Nonthyroidal Illness

Excerpt from EY3 of Dr. Bolton’s work.

An enunciation of the relationship between thyroid hormones and thyroid stimulating hormone during acute nonthyroidal illness and recovery will be postponed until after the statistical analysis is complete .

Total T4 is the most common hormone measured in dogs suspected of hypothyroidism and is low in cases of this disease. It can also decrease in dogs with nonthyroidal illness, frequently resulting in an inappropriate diagnosis of hypothyroidism and unnecessary thyroid hormone supplementation. Continue reading “Research Update CHF EY3 02686-A: Pattern of Thyroid Function Tests during Recovery from Acute Nonthyroidal Illness”

Research Update CHF MY3 02686-A: Pattern of Thyroid Function Tests during Recovery from Acute Nonthyroidal Illness

Excerpt from MY3 of Dr. Bolton’s work.

As expected, 100% of dogs at that time of nonthyroidal illness diagnosed had a low total T4 and ~90% had a low total T3. These values returned to normal as the disease process resolved. Free T4 (low) and TSH (high) was normal in all but 8 cases. The TSH, in most cases, appeared to significantly increase at the 2- and/or 4-week rechecks, albeit still within the reference range. Interestingly, in three cases, the TSH increases above the reference range after normalization of all other thyroid hormones (total T4, free T4, total T3) prior to returning to normal.

Enunciating differences between the pattern of thyroid hormone recovery in dogs and humans with naturally occurring disease will be postponed until all cases are enrolled and analyzed.

Grant MY3 02686-A: Pattern of Thyroid Function Tests during Recovery from Acute Nonthyroidal Illness

Research Update CHF 02686-A MY3: Pattern of Thyroid Function Tests during Recovery from Acute Nonthyroidal Illness

To date, 93 cases have been screened for possible study enrollment. Of these, 23 have fulfilled all of the enrollment criteria (92% of total cases needed) and are still in the study, 7 were enrolled but ultimately excluded (either determined to have a chronic disease, did not follow-up, or determined to have overt or subclinical hypothyroidism), 8 were not enrolled despite having a low total T4 (owner did not allow for study enrollment or found to have a chronic disease during diagnostic work-up), and 55 had a normal total T4 (failed to fulfill this inclusion criteria). Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02686-A MY3: Pattern of Thyroid Function Tests during Recovery from Acute Nonthyroidal Illness”

Research Update CHF 02686-A EY2: Pattern of Thyroid Function Tests during Recovery from Acute Nonthyroidal Illness

To date, 52 cases have been screened for possible study enrollment, of which 13 fulfilled enrollment criteria (~50% of total cases needed). Based on the case enrollment thus far, 11/13 dogs had normalization of total T4 by the 2-week recheck. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02686-A EY2: Pattern of Thyroid Function Tests during Recovery from Acute Nonthyroidal Illness”

Research Update CHF 02686-A EY1: Pattern of Thyroid Function Tests during Recovery from Acute Nonthyroidal Illness

To date, 5 cases (20% of the goal) have been enrolled.

Based on the case enrollment thus far, all dogs had normalization of total T4 by the 2-week recheck. Thus, in dogs where acute nonthyroidal illness is diagnosed, rechecking the total T4 two weeks after nonthyroidal illness resolution will result in an accurate assessment of thyroid hormone status. Continue reading “Research Update CHF 02686-A EY1: Pattern of Thyroid Function Tests during Recovery from Acute Nonthyroidal Illness”