Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Restoring normal thyroid levels improves kidney function
By Williams, T L et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2014·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect on renal function of restoration of euthyroidism in hyperthyroid cats with iatrogenic hypothyroidism.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 19 hyperthyroid cats, who developed low thyroid hormone levels (iatrogenic hypothyroidism) after treatment, were studied to see if restoring normal thyroid levels would help their kidney function. After adjusting their medication, the cats showed a significant drop in blood creatinine levels, which indicates better kidney function. Along with improved kidney health, the cats also gained some weight and showed other positive changes in their blood tests. This suggests that getting their thyroid levels back to normal can be beneficial for their overall health.
People also search for: cat kidney function improvement · hyperthyroid cat treatment · iatrogenic hypothyroidism in cats · restoring thyroid levels in cats
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Iatrogenic hypothyroidism is associated with an increased incidence of azotemia after treatment of hyperthyroidism, and decreased survival time in azotemic hyperthyroid cats. HYPOTHESIS: Restoration of euthyroidism will decrease plasma creatinine concentrations. ANIMALS: Nineteen client-owned, methimazole- or carbimazole-treated, hyperthyroid cats with documented iatrogenic hypothyroidism (based on subnormal plasma total thyroxine concentrations [TT4] and increased plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations). METHODS: Prospective interventional study. Doses of antithyroid medication were reduced until euthyroidism was restored (TT4 10-40 nmol/L). Plasma creatinine concentration and selected other clinicopathologic variables were evaluated before and after restoration of euthyroidism and compared by nonparametric statistics. Data are presented as median [25th, 75th percentile]. RESULTS: Restoration of euthyroidism was associated with a significant decrease in plasma creatinine concentrations (2.61 [1.90, 3.26] mg/dL versus 2.07 [1.42, 2.82] mg/dL; P < .001) and body weight (4.03 [3.59, 4.53] kg versus 3.89 [3.34, 4.18] kg; P = .019), and a significant increase in packed cell volume (30 [28, 39]% versus 34 [29, 39]%; P = .038), heart rate (174 [163, 201] bpm versus 190 [164, 202] bpm; P = .009), and plasma alkaline phosphatase activity (26.6 [17.0, 33.0] IU/L versus 38.0 [23.5, 46.5] IU/L; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Restoration of euthyroidism in medically treated hyperthyroid cats with iatrogenic hypothyroidism causes a reduction in plasma creatinine concentrations, and thus might improve renal function; however, this could be influenced by concurrent changes in body weight.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24773059/