The Impact of Contrast Media Used in Epidural Steroid Injections on Thyroid Function Tests

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study is aim to disclose the effect of contrast media, which used in epidural steroid injections, on the parameters of thyroid function tests (TFTs). The patients who underwent an epidural steroid injection were included. The investigators hypothesized that contrast media owing to contain iodine may impair the values of TFTs.

Detailed Description
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The objective of this study is to reveal the impact of contrast media, whether they change the values of TFTs in participants who had been performed any kind of epidural steroid injection such as Lumbar, cervical and caudal epidural steroid injection. The inclusion criteria were participants who had normal values of TFTs, being between the ages of 18 and 65 and had an epidural steroid injection. Patients with impaired parameters of TFTs or had thyroid surgery, systemic and/or local infections, malignancy, bleeding diathesis, acute fracture, known allergy to contrast material and/or local anesthetic substances, known history of any psychiatric disorder, and patients with a history of pregnancy were excluded from the study. Verbal and written informed consent was obtained from all patients participating in the study. In conjunction with the recording of the demographic data of the patients participating in this study (age, sex, duration of symptoms, etc.), their contrast medium doses and the values of TFTs (free T3, free T4 and Thyroid-stimulating hormone) were employed before the procedure and 3rd week after the procedure.

Official Title
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The Impact of Contrast Media Used In Epidural Steroid Injections on Thyroid Function Tests

Conditions
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Lumbar Radiculopathy, Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, Cervical Radiculopathy, Cervical Stenosis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Epidural Steroid Injection


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients who will be performing with an epidural steroid injection Being between the ages of 18 and 65 Having normal values of Thyroid function tests Exclusion Criteria: Patients with a history of thyroid surgery or impaired thyroid function tests Patients with systemic and/or local infections, Malignancy, Bleeding diathesis, Acute fracture, Known allergy to contrast material and/or local anesthetic substances, Known history of any psychiatric disorder Patients with a history of pregnancy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Procedure: Epidural Steroid Injection|This intervention is applied mostly for cervical or lumbar radiculopathy. The intervention was carried out under sterile conditions with the C-arm fluoroscopy guidance. It is performed via spinal needle and the needle is inserted into the epidural space, then a combined local anesthetic and glucocorticoids are delivered to the epidural space.|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Values of free T4 | Free T4 is a type of thyroid hormone. A free T4 test is used to evaluate thyroid function | Change of the values of free T4 from baseline to each checkpoints from pre-interventional time to postinterventional 3rd week | 
| The Values of free T3 | The free T3 is an another major hormone of the thyroid gland. It is used to show thyroid functions. | Change of the values of free T3 from baseline to each checkpoints from pre-interventional time to postinterventional 3rd week | 
| The Values of Thyroid-stimülating hormone (TSH) | TSH is secreted from the pituitary gland to stimulate the thyroid gland. It regulates thyroid functions. This test is also used for thyroid functions. | Change of the values of TSH from baseline to each checkpoints from pre-interventional time to postinterventional 3rd week | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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thyroid functions, epidural steroid injections