Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often also suffer from subclinical hypothyroidism, according to new research.

A study of blood test results in over 3,000 patients with CKD who were not receiving dialysis found that 9.5 per cent had mild reductions in their thyroid function.

Patients with lower kidney function had a greater chance of having subclinical hypothyroidism with 18 percent of those with moderate CKD experiencing reductions in their thyroid function - compared to seven percent of patients with mild CKD.

Dr Michel Chonchol and Dr Giovanni Targher, said: "Although no recommendations are available regarding the treatment of mild abnormalities of thyroid hormone levels in patients with CKD not requiring dialysis, these abnormalities could represent a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and might also be implicated in kidney disease progression."

Despite the study, a lack of follow up research has meant that a causal relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and CKD can not officially be determined.

Entitled Prevalence of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease the study will be available in the September issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).

Register now to access our FREE educational library

• Study highlights lack of sleep and exercise as cancer risk 18/11/08
• Doctors warned over pre-eclampsia risk in pregnant women 05/11/08
• Yoghurt found to reduce cancer risk 17/10/08
• Gender link explored in CHD research 14/10/08
• Additional testing may improve breast cancer risk assessment 29/07/08

• TRITACE Tablets - 24.72%
  ... more who have one or more of the following clinical findings: hypertension (systolic blood pressure> 160mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > 90mmHg); high total cholesterol (>5.2 mmol/L); low HDL (<0.9 mmol/L); current smoker; known microalbuminuria; clinical evidence of previous vascular disease ...
  
  
• TRITACE Titration Pack - 24.36%
  ... who have one or more of the following clinical findings: hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 160mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > 90mmHg); high total cholesterol (>5.2 mmol/L); low HDL (<0.9 mmol/L); current smoker; known microalbuminuria; clinical evidence of previous vascular disease. Oral ...
  
  
• BETAFERON - 23.54%
  ... of clinical relapses in ambulatory patients, who have had at least two attacks of neurological dysfunction in the preceding two years followed by complete or incomplete recovery. Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis - Slowing progression of disease and reduction in frequency of clinical relapses ...
  
  
• LOCOID Ointment - 22.5%
  The product is recommended for clinical use in the treatment of conditions responsive to topical corticosteroids e.g. eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis. Topical corticosteroids are not generally indicated in psoriasis but may be acceptable in psoriasis excluding widespread plaque psoriasis provided ...
  
  
• NAGLAZYME Solution for Infusion - 22.5%
  ... it is of primary importance, especially in severe forms, to initiate treatment as early as possible, before appearance of non-reversible clinical manifestations of the disease. A key issue is to treat young patients aged <5 years suffering from a severe form of the disease, even though patients <5 ...
  
  
• ELAPRASE Solution for Infusion - 22.5%
  Elaprase is indicated for the long-term treatment of patients with Hunter syndrome (Mucopolysaccharidosis II, MPS II). Heterozygous females were not studied in the clinical trials ...