CHANGES lN THYROID FUNCTION TESTS UPON TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS lN CHILDREN

Abstract

Despite the world-wide importance of tuberculosis, data

concernmg

conflicting.

thyroid hormones in this disease remain sparse and

Our study was done to try to clarify the effect of T.B and its chemotheraputic treatment on serum thyroid hormones.

To perform this study, 28 newly diagnosed tuberculous children were randomly selected from the chest outpatient clinic and inpatient section in New Children Hospital, Cairo University.

Their age ranged from 4 months to 14 years (the mean was 7"14 y and the median was 6Y:, y), of which 35.7% were in the preschool age. Out of the 28 patients, 17 patients were males and 11 were females Most of the patients (16 patients) were of the extrathoracic type of TB while only 8 patients were of the intrathoracic type and the rest are of patients of the mixed type.

After taking a full history from each patient, and before the . initiation of treatment they were fully investigated regarding tuberculin skin test, body weight, radiological (x-ray) findings, ultrasonographic findings and laboratory findings as complete blood picture, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and liver function tests (ALTAST, ALK. Phosphatase and albumin). Some patients with lymphadenopathy performed also lymphnode biopsy. Simultaneously, all patients were investigated regarding the levels of serum thyroid hormones T3-T4, thyrotropin (TSH)

and thyroxin binding globulin (TBG).