Functional Thyroid Disorders Are More Common in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis Compared with the General Population

Thyroid function disorders are common in patients with chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to compare thyroid function among patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) and healthy participants and to assess duration of dialysis on thyroid disorders.

Prospective study included 80 participants divided in two groups. Study group included 40 patients on HD who were divided in two subgroups, according to time on dialysis (under and over 72 months). Exclusion critheria were: previous thyroid disorders, systemic illnesses, criticaly ill patients and acute inflamatory diseases. Control group included 40 healthy participants. Blood samples were taken for standard laboratory analysis, total and free thyroid hormone levels.

In HD group we found statistycally significant lower mean values of T3 (1,36 ± 0.451, p<0.0001), T4 (80.33 ± 19.167, p= 0.0001), and higher mean values of TSH (3.16 ± 3.168, p= 0.01), higher frequency of low T3 syndrome in 12.5% (n=5) (p=0.01) and subclinical hypothyroidism in 17.5% (n=7) (p=0.021). In the subgroup of patients with time on HD <72 months, significantly, more frequent and low T3 syndrome was found in 19.23% (n = 5) (p = 0.01). In the subgroup of patients with HD >72 months subclinical hypothyroidism was found more frequently in 35.71% (n = 5) (p = 0.04).

Thyroid disorders are more common in patients on HD compared to general population. These findings suggest that thyroid function and morphology screening should be performed in HD patients.