Assessment of decrease in renal function associated with hypothyroidism

Objective: Study was aimed to see the effects of hypothyroidism on GFR as a renal function.

Material and methods: Total of Fifty-eight patients were included in the study. Out of those forty-eight patients were female and the rest were male. Out of fifty eight patients, fifty three patients were of thyroid cancer in which hypothyroidism was due to discontinuation of thyroxine before the administration of radioactive iodine for Differentiated thyroid cancer.Moreover, remaining five patients were post radioactive iodine treatment (for hyperthyroidism) hypothyroid. All of the patients were above eighteen years of age with TSH value > 30µIU/ml. Pregnant and lactating females were excluded.Renal function tests (urea/creatinine, creatinine clearance) and serum electrolytes followed by Tc-99m-DTPA renal scan for GFR assessment (GATES’ method) were carried out in all subjects twice during the study, One study during hypothyroid state (TSH > 30 µIU/ml) and other during euthyroid state (TSH between 0.4 to 4µ IU/ml). The results of Student’s t-test showed significant difference in renal functions (Urea, creatinine, creatinine clearance, GFR values) in euthyroid state and hypothyroid state (p-value <0.05). RESULTS: In case of creatinine the paired t test reveal the mean 1.014±0.428, with standard error of 0.669 within 95% confidence interval, for creatinine clearance 80.11±14.12 with standard error of 1.94 within 95% confidence intervals, for urea the mean 28±12.13 with standard error of 1.607 within 95% confidence intervals and for GFR for individual kidney is 38.056±8.56 with standard error of 1.3717 within 95% confidence interval. There was no difference in the outcome of the 2 groups.

Conclusion: Hypothyroidism impairs renal function to a significant level and hence needs to be prevented and corrected as early as possible.