Free thyroxine by solid phase radioimmunoassay: improvement in the laboratory diagnosis of thyroid status in severely ill patients.

During severe systemic illness total thyroid hormone levels are often low, and measurement of total hormones often does not differentiate between euthyroid and hypothyroid patients. Therefore, we examined serum free thyroxine levels by radioimmunoassay (antibody-coated tubes, Clinical Assays) as an alternative diagnostic test in three groups of severely ill patients with subnormal triiodothyronine. Free thyroxine estimates agreed with the clinical impression and TSH in 91% of cases in group 1 (47 patients with no history or clinical evidence of thyroid disorder), in 96% of cases in group 2 (24 euthyroid patients with a previous history of thyroid disease, including some on thyroid replacement) and 90% of cases in group 3 (10 hypothyroid patients). By contrast, the free thyroxine index did so in only 53% (group 1), 46% (group 2) or 100% (group 3). Sequential studies showed little change in free thyroxine and TSH levels in euthyroid patients during illness and recovery, and a good negative correlation between free thyroxine and TSH in hypothyroid patients. Free thyroxine measurements (and TSH) discriminate between euthyroid and hypothyroid sick patients better than other thyroid function tests including the free thyroxine index, and can be employed routinely: a distinct advantage over free thyroxine measured by equilibrium dialysis.