Alterations in Thyroid Function in Acute Kidney Injury and Their Association with Disease Severity and Outcomes

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between thyroid function tests and the stages of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients diagnosed according to KDIGO criteria. Methods: A total of 53 patients diagnosed with AKI between January and June 2013 and without thyroid disease or medications affecting thyroid metabolism were retrospectively analyzed. The control group consisted of 53 healthy individuals without known diseases. Serum levels of TSH, free T3 (fT3), and free T4 (fT4) were compared between groups, and their correlation with AKI stages was assessed. Results: Serum fT3 levels were significantly lower in the AKI group compared to controls (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in TSH and fT4 levels between the groups. Besides, there was no significant association between thyroid function tests and AKI stages. However, fT3 levels showed an inverse correlation with BUN, creatinine, and age. Additionally, patients requiring dialysis and those with mortality had significantly lower fT3 levels. Conclusion: Thyroid function tests, particularly fT3, were significantly decreased in patients with AKI compared to controls. However, no correlation was found between thyroid function tests and AKI stages. Larger, well-designed studies are warranted to clarify the relationship between AKI and thyroid function.

Keywords

• Acute kidney injury
• Thyroid function tests
• KDIGO
• fT3
• Euthyroid sick syndrome

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