Associations between thyroid dysfunction and chronic kidney disease

Abstract

Abstract Background and Aims. The interactions between kidney and thyroid functions are well established: thyroid hormones are necessary for the maintenance of electrolyte and water homeostasis and kidney is involved in the regulation of thyroid hormones metabolism. The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in patients with diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Material and Method. 23 patients with diabetes mellitus and CKD in pre-dialysis phase were recruited for this study. All subjects were investigated with thyroid ultrasound and laboratory tests to determine thyroid function, including: serum triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (free T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and antithyroid peroxidase antibodies (ATPO). Results were compared with the same measurements in 21 patients with diabetes mellitus but without CKD. Results. The prevalence of goiter (52.17% vs. 19.04%, p<0.05), subclinical hypothyroidism (23.80% vs. 9.52%, p<0.05), hypothyroidism (8.69% vs. 4.76 %, p<0.05) and low T3 syndrome (23.80% vs. 0.00% p<0.05) were significant high in diabetic patients with CKD compared with patients with diabetes mellitus but without CKD. Conclusions. We observed high prevalence of thyroid morphology abnormalities and thyroid function disorders in diabetic patients with CKD. Low T3 syndrome and subclinical hypothyroidism are the most frequently thyroid function disorders in CKD patients.