Korean J Med.  2011 Sep;81(3):331-333.

Prevalence of Hypothyroidism in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

• Kim HY

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects both hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis and peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones. CKD is associated with a higher prevalence of both overt and subclinical primary hypothyroidism. Recent studies have shown that the prevalence of primary hypothyroidism, mainly in the subclinical form, increases as GFR decreases. In this issue of the journal, Lee et al. reported that the prevalence of overt hypothyroidism increased from 0.5% at an estimated GFR > 90 mL/min per 1.73 m2 to 6.3% at ESRD requiring dialysis, and it is independently associated with progressively lower estimated GFR. However, additional large, community based studies will be required to determine the prevalence of primary hypothyroidism at different levels of kidney function in Korean population. Further investigations are need to elucidate the potential causal mechanism linking hypothyroidism and CKD, adverse effects of hypothyroidism on cardiovascular risk associated with CKD, and clinical value of routine monitoring for hypothyroidism among patients with CKD.

Keyword

Chronic renal insufficiency; Hypothyroidism

MeSH Terms

Axis, Cervical Vertebra
Dialysis
Humans
Hypothyroidism
Kidney
Kidney Failure, Chronic
Prevalence
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
Thyroid Hormones
Thyroid Hormones