[Study of thyroid function in the organ donor during brain death].

Objective: To determine the thyroid function in organ donors undergoing cerebral death and evaluate the effects that these possible alterations may exert on the early function of renal graft.

Development: Prospective study. Hormonal analysis when: 1) the diagnosis of cerebral death was made and 2) before organ extraction.

Patients: Fifteen organ donors with cerebral death. Twenty-nine patients who received the kidneys of these donors.

Place: Neurotraumatologic Unit at the University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla. Referring center.

Measurements And Results: All donors showed low T3 and T4 values. Values of T4 and IT4L were significantly lower during the second determination (p < 0.05). Eighty percent of donors showed increased T3r values. TSH was low in 73% of cases. Dopamine requirements in donors or the incidence of acute tubular necrosis in recipients were not significantly higher in donors with lowest T3 values.

Conclusion: The hormonal picture observed in the donors of this study is more characteristic of a "ill euthyroid syndrome" than a real hypothyroidism. The low values of T3 in donors is not associated with higher requirements of inotropic agents, nor with a higher incidence of acute tubular necrosis in renal grafts.