SERUM TRIIODOTHYRONINE ELEVATION IN ISRAELI COMBAT VETERANS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER - A CROSS-CULTURAL-STUDY

This study examines the thyroid hormonal profile in Israeli combat vet erans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and compares it with t he previously reported profile in American Vietnam combat veterans wit h PTSD. Eleven male combat veterans with PTSD were compared with II no rmal subjects. Thyroid function was evaluated by the measurement of se rum total triiodothyronine (TT3), free triiodothyronine (FT3), total t hyroxine (TT4), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) , and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The mean total T3 level in th e Israeli PTSD patients (160.5 ng/dL) was significantly elevated (t = 2.53, p <.02) above that of the comparison group (135.5 ng/dL). Total T3 mean levels were not significantly different between the Israeli PT SD group and two American PTSD groups, but all three PTSD groups had s ignificantly higher total T3 levels than both Israeli and American com parison groups. This preliminary study indicates that T3 elevation in combat-related PTSD may extend across cultures and suggests that furth er comparison of Israeli and American PTSD and normal groups may be us eful in evaluating the significance and implications of the unusual al terations in the thyroid system in PTSD.