Increase in Serum Free Thyroxine Levels Related to Intravenous Heparin Treatment
Authors: Rita Jain
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1996)

Letters1 January 1996Increase in Serum Free Thyroxine Levels Related to Intravenous Heparin TreatmentRita Jain, MD and Harry L. Uy, MDRita Jain, MDUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; San Antonio, TX 78284Search for more papers by this author and Harry L. Uy, MDUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; San Antonio, TX 78284Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-124-1_Part_1-199601010-00022 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Heparin has been shown to affect thyroid function test results [1, 2]. Because heparin is now commonly used to treat patients with unstable angina or atrial arrhythmias, physicians should be aware of this interaction. We describe a patient with a heparin-induced increase in the serum free thyroxine level as measured by direct equilibrium dialysis and a one-step free thyroxine immunoassay.A 62-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia, and coronary artery disease presented with unstable angina. On physical examination she appeared to be euthyroid, with no palpable thyroid nodules or goiter. She began receiving intravenous heparin, and the ...References1. Shatz DL, Sheppard RH, Steiner G, Chandarlapaty CS, DeVeber GA. Influence of heparin on serum free thyroxine. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1969; 29:1015-22. Google Scholar2. Mendel CM, Frost PH, Kunitake ST, Cavalieri RR. Mechanism of the heparin-induced increase in the concentration of free thyroxine in plasma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1987; 65:1259-64. Google Scholar3. Bayer MF. Effect of heparin on serum free thyroxine linked to post-heparin lipolytic activity. Clin Endocrinol. 1983; 19:591-6. Google Scholar4. Boss M, Kingstone D, Chan MK, Varghese Z. Contradictory findings in the measurement of free thyroxin after administration of heparin [Letter]. Clin Chem. 1982; 28:1238-9. Google Scholar5. Wang YS, Hershman JM, Smith V, Pekary AE. Effect of heparin on free thyroxine as measured by equilibrium dialysis and ultrafiltration. Clin Chem. 1986; 32:700. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio; San Antonio, TX 78284 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byElevated thyroid hormone levels following low molecular weight heparin administrationElevación de los niveles de hormonas tiroideas tras administración de heparina de bajo peso molecularThyroid Function TestingThe Effect of Medications on Thyroid Function TestsInfluence of Drugs on Thyroid Function TestsThyroid Function TestingThyroid Disorders 1 January 1996Volume 124, Issue 1_Part_1Page: 74-75KeywordsEquilibrium dialysisFatty acidsHeparinImmunoassaysMedical dialysisStable coronary artery diseaseThyroidThyroid-stimulating hormoneThyroxineUnstable angina Issue Published: 1 January 1996 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1996 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...