Abstract: Objective  To investigate the association of triiodothyronine(T3) level with shortterm prognosis in patients with large artery atherosclerosis(LAA) cerebral infarction.Methods  A total of 191  patients with  LAA  cerebral infarction  were divided into low T3 group (n=76) and normal T3 group (n=115). The laboratory indicators of thyroid function,  demographic and clinical data of these two groups were compared.Neurological impairment was evaluated by using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) scores and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores after 90 days followup. The mRS  scores≤2 was defined as favorable prognosis, while mRS scores >2 was defined as unfavorable prognosis.Results  The levels of total triiodothyronine(TT3), free  triiodothyronine(FT3) and total thyroxine(TT4) in low T3 group were significantly lower than those in normal T3 group.However,  patients in low T3 group were significantly older than those in normal T3 group. And  low T3 group had significant higher NIHSS scores compared to normal T3 group (P<0.01). NIHSS scores on admission were negatively correlated with TT3 and FT3 levels (r=-0.267,  P<0.01 and r=-0.306, P<0.01). NIHSS and mRS scores after 90 days followup in low T3 group were significantly higher than those in normal T3 group (P<0.01)．The mRS scores after 90 days followup were negatively correlated with TT3 and FT3 levels (r=-0.400, P<0.01 and r=-0.379, P<0.01),  while  mRS scores after 90 days followup were positively correlated with age and NIHSS scoreson admission(r=0.217, P<0.01 and r=0.765, P<0.01).Conclusion  Low T3 level may be relevant to shortterm poor prognosis in patients with  LAA cerebral infarction.

Key words: large artery atherosclerosis , cerebral infarction, thyroid , hormone; , triiodothyronine