Thyroid function in children with nephrotic syndrome

This study was done to find out the thyroid function of nephrotic children during nephrosis and to compare any significant changes of thyroid function status during nephrosis and remission. This is an observational study with prospective follow up of study subjects. It was carried out over a period of one year from July'2006 to June'2007 in the department of Paediatric Nephrology, National Institute of Kidney Diseases & Urology (NIKDU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 85 nephrotic children with initial attack and relapse cases were studied. Age ranged from 2-12 years, M: F=1.7:1. All patients were clinically euthyroid. The mean value of serum T3 (0.65±0.31 ng/ml) and T4 (5.04±4.18 μg/ml) in 85 nephrotic children during nephrosis were within normal limit. But the mean value of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was higher than normal level (7.1±5.8 MIU). In 21 nephrotic children thyroid function status was compared during nephrosis and 4 weeks later after achieving remission. A significant increase in TSH level during nephrosis (9.11±6.36 vs. 4.2±3.6 MIU/L, p = 0.005) was found, which normalized during remission. No significant difference between T3 and T4 level was observed. There was a negative correlation of serum albumin with serum TSH level (r = -0.216, p = 0.047). This result suggests that children with nephrotic syndrome commonly have a state of mild or subclinical hypothyroidism during proteinuria although they are clinically euthyroid. This temporary hypothyroid state improves with remission and needs no treatment.