Serum thyroid hormone levels in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and regular hemodialysis

In vitro thyroid function tests were performed on clinically euthyroid patients undergoing regular hemodialysis (HD) or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The mean serum total thyroxine (TT4) and total triiodothyronine (TT3) values measured before HD were significantly subnormal. Similarly, CAPD subjects had reduced TT3 concentrations with low normal TT4 levels. Free thyroxine measurements, estimated by two different methods were aberrant in CAPD patients. Low normal reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) values were found in HD, in contrast to high normal rT3 levels in CAPD. Thyroid stimulating hormone determinations were normal, corresponding with the euthyroid status in both patient groups.