Observation of serum thyroid hormone levels in patients with different types of cirrhosis

Objective To analyze the serum thyroid hormone levels in patients with different types of cirrhosis. Methods Retrospective analysis of 84 cases between January 2010 and June 2013, primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC), alcoholic cirrhosis and viral decompensented cirrhosis patients with serum thyroid hormone and total bilirubin detection results. Results Eighty four patients were divided into PBC group of 17 cases, alcoholic cirrhosis group of 25 cases, viral decompensented cirrhosis group of 42 cases depending on the type of disease. The serum levels of total triiodothyronine(TT3) and serum total thyroxine(TT4) were decreased in all three types of cirrhosis, and the differences among the three groups was also statistically signifi cant(P 0.001 and P = 0.001). Among them, patients with PBC had the lowest levels of TT3, while patients with alcoholic cirrhosis had the lowest levels of TT4. As compared to cirrhotic patients without jaundice, the serum levels of free triiodothyronine(FT3) and TT3 were decreased signifi cantly in cirrhotic patients with jaundice(P 0.001 and P = 0.001). Conclusions Abnormal changes of thyroid hormone levels are common in cirrhotic patients, and the levels of serum thyroid hormone may vary in different types of cirrhosis.