Title: Correlation of Thyroid Function Test with Severity of Liver Dysfunction in Cirrhosis of Liver

Authors: Dr Nilesh Kumar Patira, Dr Nirali Salgiya, Dr Deepak Agrawal

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i5.109

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the Thyroid functions in patients with cirrhosis of liver and to assess the severity of liver dysfunction in relation with interpretation of thyroid functions.

Material and Methods: The present study was undertaken at Maharana Bhupal Govt. Hospital, attached to R.N.T. Medical College, Udaipur (Raj.).

1) This study included total 50 patients admitted at Maharana Bhupal Govt. Hospital, attached to R.N.T. Medical College Udaipur (Raj.) with clinical, biochemical, and radiological evidence of cirrhosis of liver.

2) All patients were subjected to medical examination as per the fixed Performa.

Inclusion criteria-

            1) Patients with clinical, biochemical, and radiological evidence of cirrhosis of liver.

            2) Patients who himself or his/her relatives gave consent.

Exclusion criteria-

            1) Patients with diabetes.

            2) Pregnant subjects.

            3) Patient with prior h/o thyroid disease.

            4) Patient receiving drugs that may interfere with thyroid hormone metabolism and function.

            5) Patient with any other chronic illness (except liver cirrhosis).

Sample Analysis-

-Fasting morning blood sample was collected.

Observations and Conclusion: Prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism with cirrhosis was 62%. 31 out of 50 patients had subclinical hypothyroidism. The study showed that prevalence of hypothyroidism in cirrhosis patients increases as the severity of cirrhosis increases and findings were statistically significant (p value 0.00).This study found association between serum T3 and severity of liver disease. As the severity of cirrhosis increases which is indicated by Child Pugh A to C, serum level of T3 reduces and findings were statistically significant (p value 0.00).All 50 patients of cirrhosis had their serum T4 level within normal limit and it does not change with severity of liver disease. This study found association between serum FT4 and severity of liver disease. As the severity of cirrhosis increases which is indicated by Child Pugh A to C, serum level of FT4 fall in low-normal or below normal value and findings were statistically significant (p value 0.00). This study found association between serum FT3 and severity of liver disease. As the severity of cirrhosis increases which is indicated by Child Pugh A to C, serum level of FT3 reduces. All patients of Child Pugh C had low FT3 level and the findings were statistically significant (p value 0.00). This study showed that serum bilirubin, prothombin time, INR, TSH level increases and serum albumin level, T3, FT3, and FT4 level reduces as the severity of cirrhosis increases.

According to this study all cirrhotic patients should undergo thyroid function evaluation as these patients are definitely associated with development of hypothyroidism. There is significant inverse correlation between serum level of T3, FT3, and FT4 with severity of cirrhosis. These parameters can be used as markers to indicate the severity of cirrhosis.

References

1.      Bell BP et al. The epidemiology of newly diagnosed chronic liver disease in gastroenterology practices in the United States: results from population based surveillance. Am J Gastroenterology 2008 Nov; 103(11):2727-36.

2.      Haussinger D et al. pathogenic mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy .Gut 2008 Aug; 57(8):1156-65.

3.      Alder SM et al. The non-thyroidal illness syndrome. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2008 Sep; 36(3):657-72.

4.      Beltran S et al. Subclinical hypothyroidism in chronic illness patients is not an autoimmune disease. Horm RTS 2006; 66(1):21-6.

5.      Chopra IJ, Chopra U, Smith SR, Reza M, Solomon DH. Reciprocal changes in serum concentration of 3, 3’, 5’-triiodothyronin and 3, 3’, 5- triiodothyronine in systemic illness. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1975; 41:1043-1049.

6.      Nomura S. Pittmann CS, Chambers JB, Buck MW, Shimizu T. Reduced peripheral conversion of thyroxin to triiodothyronine in patient with hepatic cirrhosis. J Clin Invest 1975; 56:643-652.

7.      Iredale J -Cirrhosis; New research provide a basis for rational and targeted treatment BMJ 2003; 327:143-147.

8.      Ryder SD, Clinical assessment of liver disease, Medicine 2006; 35(1); 1-4.

9.      Williams-Textbook of endocrinology 10th edition page 456-472.

10.  Shimada T, Higashi K, Umeda T, Sato T. Thyroid functions in patients with various chronic liver diseases. Endocrinol Jpn 1988; 35(3):357-369.

11.  Van Theil DH, Udani M, Schada RR, Sanghvi A, Starzl TE. Prognostic value of thyroid hormone level in patients evaluated for liver transplantation. Hepatology 1985; 5(5):862-866.

12.  Borzio M, Caldara R, Borzio F, Piepoli V, Rampini P, Ferrari C.  Thyroid function tests in chronic liver disease: evidence of multiple abnormalities despite clinical euthyroidism.  Gut 1983; 24:631-636.

13.  Agha F, Qureshi H, Khan RA. Serum thyroid hormone levels in cirrhosis. J Pak Med Assoc 1989; 39 (7):179-183.

14.  Malik R, Hodgson H. The relationship between the thyroid gland and the liver. Q J Med 2002; 95(9):559-569.

15.  Burra P, Franklyn JA, Ramsden DB, Elias E, Sheppard MC. Severity of alcoholic liver disease and markers of thyroid and steroid status. Postgrad Med J 1992; 68:804-810.

16.  Sazia Shakoor, Fatima Shad Kaneez Uzma Iftikar, FT3 a reliable indicator of thyroid dysfunction in liver cirrhosis. Vol. 1 January 2012.Print ISSN 2244-1557• International Peer Reviewed Journal. Website http://dx.doi.org/10.7718/iamure.ijscl.v1i1.385.

17.  Walfish PG, Orrego H, Israel Y, Blake J, Kalant H. Serum triiodothyronine and other clinical and laboratory indices of alcoholic liver disease. Ann Intern Med 1979; 91:13-16.

18.  L’age M, Meinhold H, Wenzel KW, Schleusener H. 1980 .Relation  between  serum  levels  of  TSH,  TBG,  T4,T3, rT3 and various  histologically  classified  chronic  liver  diseases.   J Endocrinol Invest; 4:379-383.

19.  Kayacetin E, Kisakol G, Kaya A.2003.Low serum total thyroxin and free triiodothyronine in patients with hepatic encephalopathy due to non-alcoholic cirrhosis. Swiss Med Wkly; 133:210-213.

20.  Green JRB, Snitcher EJ, Mowat NAG, Ekins RP, Rees LH, Dawson AM. Thyroid function and thyroid regulation in euthyroid men with chronic liver disease: evidence of multiple abnormalities. Clin Endocrinol 1977; 7:453-461.

Corresponding Author

Dr Nilesh Kumar Patira

Assistant Professor, Dept of Medicine

American International Institute of Medical Sciences, Udaipur