SELENIUM-INDUCED THYROID-DYSFUNCTION

Administration of the anti-oxidative element selenium is currently eva luated for its benefits in patients with inflammatory diseases. Howeve r, little is known about the risks of selenium, We report on a patient in whom, along with standard therapy, administration of large intrave nous doses of selenite for sepsis secondary to pneumonia resulted in d evelopment of marked hypothyroidism. In addition, severe iodine defici ency was noted, and supplementation with iodine led to normalisation o f thyroid function.