Abstract

Our study aimed to determine the frequency of Sick Euthyroid Syndrome (SES) among patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and multiple drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis patients, and its relation with nutritional status. We enrolled 20 patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis and 20 patients with MDR-TB. The patients were evaluated for their nutritional parameters, radiological extent, and thyroid hormone levels at the beginning and at the sixth month of their therapy. The frequency of SES was higher in MDR-TB patients (75%) compared to those with newly diagnosed TB (25%). The patients with MDR-TB had a lower free T3 (p=0.006), BMI (p=0.02), and lymphocyte count (p=0.01), compared to those with newly-diagnosed tuberculosis. Statistically significant increases in free T3, free T4, BMI, and lymphocyte counts of both MDR-TB and other TB patients were observed after six months of therapy (p<0.05). Free T3 and albumin levels were significantly lower (p<0.005 and p<0.05 respectively) in MDRTB patients who died during treatment compared to those alive at the end of the study. SES may appear frequently in MDR and newly diagnosed TB cases, and it can be successfully treated.