Thyroid nodules in female uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis

We investigated the incidence of thyroid nodules in female uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis using a high-frequency sonographic scanner. In 47 (21.0%) of the 224 female normal controls and 33 (55.0%) of the 60 female patients, thyroid nodules were detected. The difference in these incidences between controls and patients was significant. There were no differences in age, duration of hemodialysis, the level of blood urea nitrogen, parathyroid hormone or thyroid stimulating hormone between the patients with thyroid nodules and those without nodules. Although there is a correlation between uremia and the development of thyroid nodules, the details of the underlying mechanism of their association remain unclear.