Endocrine Abstracts

Existing data on the anatomical state of the thyroid gland (ThG) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are contradictory.

Objective: The aim was to analyze the anatomical features of the ThG and their correlation if it exists in patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1DM) at different stages of comorbid CKD.

Materials and methods: We recruited 53 patients (17 m; 36 f; age 43.7±11.3 years; BMI 25.8±5.0 kg/m²; duration of T1DM 22.2±7.5 years; age at onset of impairment of renal function 34.5±11.2 years; duration of GFR decline 8.8±6.7 years) estimated by using MDRD formula at CKD stages 1 (n=6), 2 (n=25), 3 (n=19), 4 (n=1), and 5D (n=2). All patients underwent thyroid ultrasound with the assessment of following parameters: total volume of the ThG, echostructure (homogenous, and heterogenous), vascularization (expressed, and moderate), hyperechoic cords (absence, expressed, and moderate), echodensity (normal, increased, and decreased), and presence of local and any structural pathology. Revealed changes in the structure of the thyroid gland were analyzed. Nonparametrics and descriptive statistical methods were used.

Results: Comparative analysis of patients in the subgroups according to CKD stages didn’t reveal any reliable differences in the assessed parameters. We found significant correlation of hyperechoic cords (r=0.286; P<0.05), echodensity (r=0.294; P<0.05) and duration of GFR decline. Total volume of thyroid gland correlates with echodensity (r=−0.387; P<0.05). Analysis of ultrasound data showed the presence of deviation from the normal structure of ThG in 41 (77.36%) and local pathology in 21 patients (39.62%) respectively.

Conclusion: The obtained data are controversial and require further detailed in-depth study. These results do not allow us to judge of the existing of relationship between structural changes of the thyroid gland and the presence of CKD.