CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE;

Objectives: To compare thyroid hormone levels in apparently healthy individualsand un-dialyzed chronic renal failure patients in local population. Study Design: Crosssectional,descriptive, observational study. Setting: OPD patients in BMSI Biomedical ScienceInstitute of Medical Jinnah Medical Karachi. Period: June 2010 to December 2010 in BMSIJPMC, Karachi. Methods: Ninety individuals including 30 healthy control and 60 patients ofchronic renal failure were included in this study. Individuals were grouped based on severity ofdiseases (stages) as healthy (control) group and the diseased group. Patients with un-dialyzedCRF on conservative management, GFR < 60 ml/mint/1.73m2, age between 20 to 60 years inboth sexes were included in this study. Patients already taking thyroxine or antithyroid drugs,history of thyroid surgery and neck radiation and patients on maintenance haemodialysis wereexcluded. Measurement of thyroid hormone levels were done through Radio Imune Assay (RIA)method and GFR by Cock Craft Gualt formula. Results: Serum FT3 significantly low in patientswith CRF of stage III 1.27±0.12, stage IV 1.04±0.09 vs 2.80±0.09 in controls, p=0.001. TSHwas significantly high in patients of CRF as compared to control 4.41±0.87 and 3.3±0.34 vs1.97±0.16, P=0.001. No significant difference was seen in serum FT4 levels. Conclusion: Inlocal population thyroid hormone level of FT3 declines with the severity of Glomerular FiltrationRate as compare to healthy individuals. However, TSH level increases with this severity as alsoreported in other countries. Additionally, FT3 level is helpful for early detection and preventionof complications. Local population need awareness to prevent CRF by reporting to hospitalbefore stage 3.