BASAL METABOLIC TEMPERATURE VS LABORATORY ASSESSMENT IN POSTTRAUMATICHYPOTHYROIDISM

Objectives: To compare standard laboratory analytical methods with mea surement of basal metabolic temperature in cases of hypothyroidism ari sing posttraumatically. Setting: Private medical office. Subjects: One hundred and one consecutive status post-whiplash trauma patients. Des ign: All subjects were evaluated with standard laboratory tests (T(3)R U, T-4, FT4I, TSH) for thyroid function. Ninety-four were also evaluat ed with the newer fluorescence-activated microsphere assay test (FAMA) and basal metabolic temperature (BMT) was measured in all. Correlatio ns were investigated between BMT, age, gender, standard laboratory val ues and the FAMA test. The differences between low and high BMT vs. no rmal and abnormal standard laboratory values and the differences betwe en normal and abnormal standard laboratory values vs. normal and eleva ted FAMA test results were also investigated. Results: In 86.4%, the B MTs were below normal. Of this subgroup, 30% had abnormal standard lab oratory values. Of the 13% whose BMT was within the normal range, 33% had abnormal standard laboratory values and 66% had increased FAMA tit ers. Statistically significant correlation was found between BMT and T (3)RU (p = .05), whereas the correlation between BMT and T-4 was somew hat weaker (p = .07). Correlations between BMT and all other laborator y indices failed to reach significance. The laboratory abnormalities o bserved in this group of Subjects were atypical for common types of hy pothyroidism. A significant portion of our posttraumatic hypothyroid g roup (30%) were not identified with either standard laboratory tests o r the FAMA test-a group we referred to as lab-normal. Conclusions: Mea surement of BMT seems to be a sensitive screening test, in combination with laboratory analysis, for the hypothyroidism seen after whiplash trauma. Whiplash seems to result in a form of hypothyroidism suggestin g direct injury to central tissues.