Effect of withdrawal of thyroid hormones versus administration of recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone on renal function in thyroid cancer patients

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) and recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) administration on renal function in patients with thyroid cancer after total thyroidectomy. This study included 202 patients who discontinued thyroid hormone therapy and/or received rhTSH after total thyroidectomy. Creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were assessed at the following three time points: before thyroidectomy, at least 3 weeks after THW, and 1 day after the second injection of rhTSH. The median serum Cr level was significantly higher following THW compared to that before thyroidectomy (0.95 versus 0.70). In contrast, the median BUN level was significantly lower after THW compared to that before thyroidectomy (9.8 versus 11.3). Over a fifth (22.2%) of patients had abnormal eGFR values after THW, which was significantly greater than that before thyroidectomy. In contrast, renal parameter values after rhTSH administration were not significantly different than those before thyroidectomy. In conclusion, THW affects renal function in patients with thyroid cancer who have undergone total thyroidectomy. However, renal function in such patients is not affected by rhTSH administration.