Abstract

Triiodothyronine (T(3)) supplementation may be a useful adjunct in the management of patients after cardiopulmonary bypass. Limited data are available regarding the use and pharmacokinetics of T(3) in children. The present study was performed to evaluate T(3) pharmacokinetics in a cohort of children undergoing the modified Fontan procedure.A total of 28 patients were enrolled in this randomized, prospective study. The patients were divided into 4 groups: 1 group received a placebo and 3 groups received intravenous T(3) at dosages of 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 microg/kg, respectively. All 28 patients survived their operative procedures. Two patients developed low cardiac output, and 3 patients had pleural effusions. The median length of hospital stay was 7 days. The mean free T(3) level was 316+/-67 pg/dL after then administration of a placebo. Patients who received T(3) had mean peak free T(3) levels of 972+/-88, 1351+/-299, and 1869+/-281 pg/dL for the dosages of 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 microg/kg, respectively. The calculated half-life of T(3) was 7 hours.The half-life of intravenous T(3) in children is approximately one-third of that reported for adults. These results provide a framework for studying the efficacy of T(3) supplementation in children undergoing open-heart surgery.

View details for Web of Science ID 000086143700020

View details for PubMedID 10736287