Ultrasound features of the thyroid gland in patients with type 1 diabetes depending on the kidney function

Introduction. Thyroid dysfunction is a common endocrine disorder among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but there is still no clear understanding of sonographic characteristics of the thyroid gland (TG) in patients with diabetes-related CKD. Aim. The aim of the study was to identify sonographic features of the TG in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and CKD. Patients and methods. A cross-sectional study included 173 patients with T1D, divided into subgroups based on renal function, and 39 healthy controls. Clinical assessment included evaluation of serum levels of creatinine, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), antithyroid antibodies, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with subsequent stratification by stages of CKD, as well as ultrasound examination of the TG using a standard technique. Results. Patients with T1D without CKD had the lowest median of the TG left lobe volume (p=0.009) compared to the control group; meanwhile, there were no differences with other subgroups of patients. Patients with T1D who had underwent kidney transplantation had the highest prevalence of thyroid nodules (42.9%) (χ2=5.0, p=0.025 compared to individuals with T1D without CKD). There were no differences in the frequency of ultrasound signs of thyroiditis in T1D patients with different CKD stages, as compared to the control group (χ2=3.8, p=0.274). Conclusion. The present study has obtained new data on sonographic features of the TG in patients with T1D complicated by CKD.