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Kidney failure in the elderly due to hypothyroidism: a case report
Graziela Cristina Pichinin Ledo Silva1, Jaqueline Brotto Carneiro, Cecília Carboni Tardelli
1Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo "Francisco Morato de Oliveira", São Paulo, Brazil.
Sao Paulo Medical Journal = Revista Paulista De Medicina
|December 23, 2008
Summary
This case report highlights hypothyroidism as a cause of kidney failure in an elderly patient. Prompt thyroid hormone replacement therapy significantly improved renal function, demonstrating the treatable nature of this complication.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Hypothyroidism is common in the elderly, with symptoms often mistaken for aging.
- Early diagnosis is crucial, especially when symptoms suggest complications like kidney dysfunction.
Observation:
- A 66-year-old male presented with intractable edema, bradycardia, and signs of severe hypothyroidism.
- Laboratory results revealed significantly elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and impaired kidney function (creatinine 3.9 mg/dl, clearance 30 ml/min/1.73 m²).
Findings:
- Treatment with thyroxine (100 mcg/day) for five months led to complete symptom resolution.
- Post-treatment labs showed normalized kidney function (creatinine 1.4 mg/dl, clearance 67 ml/min/1.73 m²) and improved thyroid hormone levels.
Implications:
- Hypothyroidism can cause or exacerbate renal impairment, even leading to kidney failure.
- Effective thyroid hormone replacement therapy can reverse or improve hypothyroidism-induced kidney dysfunction.
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