Low serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels may be an early predictor of sepsis

Objective This study aimed to explore whether thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) plays an early warning role in detecting progression of bacterial infection to sepsis and can serve as a novel marker for the diagnosis of sepsis. Method This was a prospective study of patients treated for ‘bacterial infection’ in the emergency department of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from 1 January 2021 to 31 August 2021. Subjects were divided into a sepsis group (SG) and a non-SG (NSG), according to whether their condition had progressed to sepsis within 72 hours of admission. Routine blood test results as well as biochemical and thyroid function indices (T4, FT4, T3, FT3) were recorded at the time of admission. TSH, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores were likewise documented. Results A total of 62 patients were enrolled, the SG and the NSG showed significant differences in their levels of TSH. The results indicate that TSH is an early warning marker for sepsis. Conclusions TSH plays an early warning role in the diagnosis of bacterial infection progressing to sepsis, having a strong predictive value.