Thyroid dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing maintenance hemodialysis

A thyroid dysfunction is a medical condition impairing the function of the thyroid. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a clinical syndrome that resulting from progressive loss of renal functions. A number of studies have shown that serum thyroid hormones levels are frequently abnormal in patients on regular maintenance hemodialysis. The present study was planned to compare the status of serum total T3, T4 & TSH in CKD patients on regular maintenance hemodialysis(HD) with that of controls.

The present study was conducted in the department of biochemistry, Navodaya Medical College, Raichur. 40 cases that were on regular maintenance hemodialysis treatment were selected and 40 controls were taken for study.

The mean serum TSH & T3 concentration was 5.30±10.63 & 1.63±0.60 in CKD patients which was significantly increased than in controls (3.13 ± 1.94 &1.97±0.99). Serum concentration of T4 was less in cases (79.58±24.31) than in controls (100.51±18.47) but the results was statistically not significant (P=0.083).

In our study, the mean levels of total T3 and T4 decreased and TSH increased significantly in study group. Prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in HD patients is 12.5% compared to 0% in controls. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism can be easily missed in HD patients. The patients of chronic kidney disease on HD should be routinely screened for thyroid disorders.