Kidney Diseases

Kidneys and the thyroid

08/23/2008 08:43AM

Question:

I was diagnosed with "Nephritis" at 8 years old, when I passed blood. It was so serious that I almost died - this according to my Dr. about 15 years later. I have had no other kidney problems since. My years prior to the diagnosis were very thin no matter what I ate. But within months after "cure" I ballooned into a "fattie" and have had weight problems since. I was told by a friend with chronic liver and kidney diease that his weight problems were due to his kidney diease affected thyroid. Is there any relation?

Answer:

I'm not sure what your friend was referring to. There is no direct way that kidney disease would cause a degree of hypothyroidism that would warrant treatment. In any event, if you are wondering whether your weight problem is due to your thyroid or not, all you need is a thyroid blood test. Regardless of other illnesses or your past medical history, if the thyroid blood test is normal then your weight problem is not being caused by thyroid trouble.

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Response by:

Thomas A Murphy, MD, FACP, FACE
Director and Associate Professor
Endocrinology Division
MetroHealth Medical Center
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University