Thyroid Hormone Levels in Cirrhosis Patients and their Association with Liver Disease Severity

Abstract

Cirrhosis of the liver, which has a number of etiologies and progresses in a devastating manner, causes significant liver dysfunction. The intricate connection between liver illness and thyroid function has come to light recently in study. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the severity of liver disease in cirrhosis patients was correlated with thyroid hormone levels (free triiodothyronine [FT3], free thyroxine [FT4], and thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]).

Methods: Over the course of 18 months (from February 2021 to August 2022) 97 cirrhosis patients were prospectively enrolled. The severity of the liver disease (as measured by the Child-Pugh and MELD scores) and the etiology of cirrhosis were also recorded. Standard assays were used to assess the serum concentrations of FT3, FT4, and TSH. Correlations, multivariate regression, and stratification by Child-Pugh class were all included in the statistical study.

Results: Significant negative relationships between FT3 and FT4 levels and Child-Pugh scores showed that levels decreased as liver disease severity increased (p 0.001). Child-Pugh scores and TSH levels showed a slight positive connection (p = 0.002). The Child-Pugh score's independent predictive significance for the FT3 and FT4 levels was validated by multivariate regression. Further stratification by Child-Pugh class indicated progressively altered thyroid hormones with deteriorating liver disease.

Conclusion: This study clearly links thyroid hormone levels to the severity of liver disease in individuals with cirrhosis. In cirrhosis, particularly in advanced stages, monitoring thyroid function is essential for complete patient care and may help to achieve better clinical results. To clarify underlying causes and treatment implications, more study is required.