Determinants of deranged thyroid function parameters in children admitted for management of diabetic ketoacidosis/diabetic ketosis

BACKGROUND: Euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS) frequently arises in children admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis/diabetic ketosis (DKA/DK). This study evaluates the interplay of various metabolic factors with occurrence of deranged thyroid function tests in children suffering from DKA/DK. METHODS: 98 DKA and 96 DK pediatric patients were selected from hospital records. Those on thyroxine replacement, with overt hypothyroidism, or with positive anti-thyroperoxidase (TPO) antibody were excluded. Tests for liver function, renal function, lipid profile, serum osmolarity, thyroid function, c-peptide levels, and glycosylated hemoglobin were done on all patients. Children were divided into euthyroid (n = 88) and ESS groups (n = 106). RESULTS: The ESS group had a higher level of white blood cell count (WBC), plasma glucose (PG), beta-hydroxybutyric acid (β-HB), triglyceride (TG), anion gap (AG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and a lower level of HCO(3)(−), prealbumin (PA), and albumin (ALB) compared with the euthyroid group (P < 0.05). Free T3 (FT3) levels were significantly correlated to β-HB, HCO(3)(−), AG, PA, and HbA1c (r = − 0.642, 0.681, − 0.377, 0.581, − 0.309, respectively; P < 0.01). Free T4 (FT4) levels were significantly correlated to β-HB, HCO(3)(−), and ALB levels (r = − 0.489, 0.338, 0.529, respectively; P < 0.01). TSH levels were significantly affected by HCO(3)(−) only (r = − 0.28; P < 0.01). HCO(3)(−) level was the most important factor deciding euthyroid or ESS on logistic regression analysis (OR = 0.844, P = 0.004, 95%CI = 0.751–0.948). CONCLUSIONS: Lower levels of free thyroid hormones and occurrence of ESS were associated with a higher degree of acidosis in children with DKA/DK.