Aim; The severity of airway obstruction in chronic obstructive
pulmonary diseases (COPD) is associated with impairment of thyroid
gland function. Methods; We evaluated thyroid abnormalities in patients
with COPD and relationship between pulmonary function tests, arterial
blood gases and thyroid functions. Results; There was no significant
difference in mean levels of TSH, FT3 and FT4 between COPD and control
group. Serum level of TSH was lower than normal limits in 20 of 62
patients with COPD. Serum level of FT3 was higher than normal limits in
2 of 20 patients with lower TSH level. In control group, TSH was lower
than normal limits in 2 patients, but FT3 was normal in these patients.
There was significant difference according to percentage of cases with
TSH less than minimum values and FT3 higher than maximum values between
COPD and control group. Conclusion; we have demonstrated that both
clinic and subclinic hyperthyroidism were higher in patients with COPD
exacerbations than cases without COPD
