[Thyroid function in normal aged subjects or with auricular fibrillation].

Free T4, free T3 and TSH before and 30 min after TRH administration have been evaluated in 35 elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), in 35 elderly normal subjects (AN) and compared with results obtained in 36 young men (YN). No significant differences were evidenced between AF and AN, especially no mild hyperthyroidism was discovered in AF. In comparison with YN, there was no alteration of free T4 with age but free T3 is dramatically decreased; concerning TSH, there is a significant decrease before and after TRH in AN males whereas TSH levels in other subgroups are similar to those in YN.