Alterations of Thyroid Hormones and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Level in End Stage Renal Disease

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes alterations in thyroid hormones without underlying thyroid disorder this syndrome known as nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTIs). This syndrome is mainly characterized by decrease in total triiodothyronine (tT3) level with normal thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH) level . The low tT3 level in CKD patients have been correlated with higher levels of inflammation markers such as interleukin -6 (IL-6). This study included 65 hemodialysis (HD) patients and 25 healthy volunteers as normal control group. Serum total triiodothyronine (tT3) and total thyroxin (tT4) levels were low, but serum TSH level was normal when compared with control group. These results associated with high level of IL-6. Also, there were highly significant negative correlation between serum IL-6 and tT3 level but mild significant negative correlation with tT4 level in HD patients. On the other hand, there was no significant correlation between serum IL-6 and TSH level.