Hipotiroidismo subclínico en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica que concurren a centros de salud pública de la ciudad de Posadas, Misiones

The objectives of the present study were: 1) to determine the frequency of Subclinical Hypothyroidism (SCH) in patients with Chronic Renal Disease (CKD), and 2) to evaluate the changes in renal function in patients with CKD and SCH after treatment with levothyroxine. A total of 182 patients were studied, 99 with CKD and 83 without CKD (control group), with ages between 20 and 70 years old, of both sexes, attending health centres and hospital clinics in Posadas, Misiones, Argentina. The frequency of SCH was 28.3% in the CKD group, and 14.5% in the control group (P=.025). Patients with CKD and SCH were referred to medical endocrinology, where after three months of treatment with levothyroxine, renal function was evaluated, after which a decrease in serum creatinine levels and an increase in the glomerular filtration rate were observed in all patients. Based on these findings, the study of thyroid function should be recommended for all patients with CKD of unknown cause, considering SCH among the possible causes of impaired renal function.