A recent longitudinal study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism sheds light on the debated link between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Drawing from the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II, researchers followed 725 adults with T2DM and no baseline thyroid dysfunction over approximately 4 years to assess changes in kidney function. The findings are nuanced.
While estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) remained stable across groups, patients with persistent SCH or overt hypothyroidism showed a significant rise in albuminuria (ACR) compared to those with euthyroidism or transient thyroid dysfunction. This suggests that sustained thyroid dysfunction may contribute to early renal injury, even if it does not immediately impact filtration rates. Given that albuminuria is a key marker of diabetic nephropathy and…
