Thyroid volume and hormone response in the early kidney transplants

Thyroid hormones could affect renal function, and conversely renal function disturbances may affect thyroid function. Disturbances of the thyroid hormone concentration are often connected with thyroid gland enlargement. The aim of study was to estimate the function and morphology of the thyroid and kidney graft after kidney transplantation. As the indicator of thyroid and renal function we have used thyroid gland volume, plasma concentration of T3, reverse rT3, creatinine concentration, and renal arteries RI.

Studied group included 17 individuals after kidney transplantation, with stabile graft function. The control group included 18 individuals after various surgical procedures. The estimated parameters were: thyroid volume, renal arteries resistive index, concentrations of creatinine,T3 and rT3.The parameters were controlled before transplantation (surgery), the day after, and at 3rd, 6th and 10th day after surgery.

All patients, before and after surgical procedure, were clinically euthyroid. Mean creatinine concentration showed tendency to diminish. Statistical analysis revealed positive correlation between Delta concentration of creatinine and Delta volume of thyroid (R Spearman=0.46, p=0.05). Till the 6th day after transplantation T3 concentration diminished, and at the 10th day presented tendency to rise. We found negative correlation between T3 concentration and renal arteries RI. The rT3 concentration during 10 days after transplantation was above the reference level.

The FT3 level and thyroid volume correlates with kidney transplant function. The supplementary thyroid hormones administration should be considered before and after renal transplantation.