Association between Urinary Creatinine Excretion and Hypothyroidism in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

While hypothyroidism increases serum creatinine (Cr) levels, it is uncertain whether the elevation is mediated via a decline in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) or the reflection of enhanced Cr production from the muscles or both. In the present study, we explored an association between urinary Cr excretion rate (CER) and hypothyroidism. A total of 553 patients with chronic kidney disease were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explore the association between hypothyroidism and urinary CER. The mean urinary CER was 1.01 +/- 0.38 g/day and 121 patients (22%) had hypothyroidism. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed explanatory variables with urinary CER, including age, sex, body mass index, 24 h Cr clearance (24hrCcr), and albumin while hypothyroidism was not considered an independent explanatory variable. In addition, scatter plot analysis with regression fit line representing the association between estimated GFR calculated using s-Cr (eGFRcre) and 24hrCcr revealed that eGFRcre and 24hrCcr had strong correlations with each other in hypothyroid patients as well as euthyroid patients. Collectively, hypothyroidism was not considered an independent explanatory variable for urinary CER in the present study and eGFRcre is a useful marker to evaluate kidney function regardless of the presence of hypothyroidism.

Automated summary

This study examined the association between urinary creatinine excretion rate (CER) and hypothyroidism. The results showed that hypothyroidism was not independently associated with CER, and estimated glomerular filtration rate calculated using serum creatinine (eGFRcre) is a useful marker for evaluating kidney function regardless of hypothyroidism.