Assessment of Serum Electrolytes in Hypothyroid Patients Attending Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital

Aims: The aim of present study was to find out the serum concentration of two important electrolytes Sodium and Potassium in hypothyroid patients and establish its relationship with thyroid function parameters.

Study Design: Hospital based retrospective cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital, Bharatpur-10, Chitwan, Nepal. January to July 2016.

Methodology: 102 hypothyroid cases were chosen based upon their past history of hypothyroidism and thyroid function tests (TFTs) result. Retrospective analysis was done by screening the electronic database of the patients.

Results: It was found that the majority of the hypothyroid patients were females falling under age-group of 40-59 years (p<0.05). Mean values of free T3 (fT3), free T4 (fT4) and TSH levels were 1.75 ± 0.86 pg/ml, 0.64 ± 0.45 ng/dl and 9.1 ± 11.43 μIU/mL respectively. Serum electrolytes (Na+ and K+) levels were found to be 132.53 ± 5.48 and 5.43 ± 0.849 mEq/L respectively. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between Na+ concentration in relation to fT3 and fT4 while there was statistically significant negative correlation between Na+ and TSH. In contrast to Na+, the correlation for K+ was just reverse. There was significant negative correlation between K+ concentration in relation to fT3 and fT4 and significant positive correlation between K+ and TSH.

Conclusions: This study suggests that hypothyroidism is strongly linked with the derangement of electrolyte concentration in blood. Regular monitoring of electrolyte concentration will be of great benefit to prevent further complications associated with hypothyroidism.