Effect of prednison therapy on serum levels of thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), reverse triiodothyronine (rT3), T3-binding capacity, basal TSH level and TSH response to thyreoliberin (TRH) in children.

Effects of Prednison therapy on serum levels of T4, T3, rT3, TBC, basal TSH and TSH response to TRH in 10 children (7 with nephrotic syndrome, 3 with trombocytopenia) were studied. It has been found out that corticotherapy (Prednison 1--2 mg/kg/24 h; 2--4 weeks) causes a significant decrease of total T3 concentration together with a considerable rise of reverse T3 and lower T3-binding capacity. Basal TSH level was increased about twice; TSH response to TRH between both groups (without and with Prednison therapy) did not differ significantly. The observations suggest the presence of hypothyroidism during chronic corticotherapy in children.