Thyroid hormone supplementation in sepsis: An experimental study

Abstract

Purpose. The levels of thyroid hormones decrease in septic, critically ill, and major trauma patients who show a bad prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of thyroid hormone supplementation on the sepsis criteria and mortality in an experimental sepsis model. Methods. Forty-eight Wistar-Albino rats were divided into four experimental groups. A cecum ligation and puncture was used as a sepsis model. Group I: sham; group II: a cecum ligation and puncture (control); group III: a cecum ligation and puncture +T3 (0.4 mug/100g body weight/day) intraperitoneally; group IV: a cecum ligation and puncture +T4 (1500ng/100g body weight/day) intramuscularly. The PCO2, leukocyte count, peritoneal bacterial content, neutropenia, and mortality rates were assessed in all groups. Results. The PCO2 levels decreased only in the control group (P < 0.05). The leukocyte counts were lower in the therapy groups (P < 0.05). The rate of neutropenia was seen much more in the control group (P < 0.05). The peritoneal bacteria content decreased in the therapy groups (P < 0.05). The mortality rate significantly decreased in the thyroid hormone-treated animals (P < 0.05). Conclusions. Thyroid hormone supplementation in septic rats had a beneficial effect on the sepsis criteria and also resulted in a lower rate of mortality.