Clinical observation and analysis of thyroid hormone levels in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy

Abstract

We sought to investigate the effect of total triiodothyronine (TT3) reduction in the follow-up of patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). A total of 121 patients were enrolled and classified into a low TT3 group or a normal group. Clinical indicators were compared between the groups, and changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), albumin (ALB), thyroid-stimulating hormone, serum creatinine, total protein, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) during follow-up were analysed. In the analysis by TT3 level, ALB was significantly lower in the low TT3 group (P < .05), while TC, TG, LDL-C, fibrinogen, and renal pathological staging were significantly higher in the low TT3 group (P < .05). Analysis of variance for repeated measurement during follow-up showed that there were no significant differences in eGFR and ALB between the groups. TC, TG, and LDL-C levels were significantly higher in the low TT3 group (P < .05). Approximately 37% of patients with IMN showed a decrease in TT3, which was accompanied by significantly decreased ALB level, higher pathological stage, and increased serum lipid level compared with patients having a normal TT3 level. The management of TT3, and appropriate intervention, may therefore help to prevent the kidney damage progress in patients with IMN.