CORRELATION OF SERUM ELECTROLYTES IN PATIENTS WITH THYROID DYSFUNCTION

Abstract

Background: The thyroid hormone is a central regulator of body functions; disorder of thyroid functions is considered to cause electrolytic disorders. Thus the main objective of this study is to assess the correlation of thyroid dysfunction with serum electrolyte levels.

Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study,100 patients who attended Manipal Teaching Hospital having thyroid hormones disarrangement were included. Estimation of serum electrolytes were also done in those patients. Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism were excluded. Thyroid hormones were estimated by electrochemiluminiscence immunoassay (eCLIA) and Serum sodium and potassium was estimated by ion selective electrode (ISE) method.  Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS 23 by Spearman’s correlation test and Chi square test. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered as statistical significance.

Results: The 75% of total patients were found to be having hypothyroidism and 25% to have hyperthyroidism. Spearman’s correlation coefficient for Na+ and K+ vs fT3, fT4 showed positive correlation (p-value<0.001) and Na+ and K+ vs TSH showed negative correlation.  There was significant association between Na+ and thyroid hormones (p-value<0.001) but no association between K+ and thyroid hormones. (p-value>0.001).

Conclusions: The current study reveals that decrease in thyroid hormones may lead to hyponatremia.  Knowledge of this significant association will be worthwhile value for clinicians, to manage their patients optimally.