Open AccessThyroid Hormone Concentrations in Dogs With Chronic Weight Loss, With Special Reference to Cancer Cachexia
Author(s) -
Vail David M.,
Panciera David L.,
Ogilvie Gregory K.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1994.tb03209.x
Subject(s) - cachexia , medicine , weight loss , endocrinology , triiodothyronine , hormone , thyroid , cancer , body weight , albumin , obesity
Serum concentrations of thyroxine (T 4 ), 3,5,3'‐triiodothyronine (T 3 ), free thyroxine (fT 4 ), and free 3,5,3'‐triiodothyronine (fT 3 ) were compared between tumor‐bearing dogs (with and without chronic weight loss) and non—tumor‐bearing dogs (with and without chronic weight loss) (n = 83). Serum T 4 , T 3 , and fT 3 concentrations were lower ( P < .05) in dogs with weight loss, whether or not they were tumor‐bearing, than in dogs without weight loss. Serum fT 4 concentrations did not vary among the groups. Serum albumin concentrations were lower ( P < .05) in cachectic dogs than in dogs not experiencing weight loss, regardless of their tumor‐bearing status. Percentage of weight loss was found to be associated ( P < .05) with T 4 , T 3 , and fT 3 concentrations. It appears that the low thyroid hormone concentrations are related to either an abnormal nutritional state or to the severity of illness, rather than to a tumor‐related phenomenon.