Abstract:

Objective  To investigate the association between low T3 syndrome and arterial stiffness in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Methods  129 CAPD patients were divided into the low T3 syndrome group and euthyroid function group. All patients received a series of examinations every 3 months, including blood biochemical indices and pulse wave velocity(PWV)for arterial stiffness. The data were analyzed using an independent t-test to compare PWV, blood biochemical indices and metabolic status between low T3 syndrome and euthyroid patients. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for PWV. Results  Both age and proportion of female patients were significantly higher in low T3 syndrome group compared with the euthyroid function group (P<0.001; P=0.044 ), although no significant differences in hemoglobin, albumin, metabolic status or other values were found. However, PWV was much higher in low T3 syndrome group than that in euthyroid function group (P<0.001). PWV was significently correlated with the diabetes (P＜0.001), age (P=0.001), systolic pressure (P=0.038), diastolic pressure (P=0.045), euthyroid function (P＜0.001), plasma albumin (P=0.007) and KT/V(remnant renal function) (P=0.018). Multiple regression analysis revealed that the level of free triiodothyronine(FT3), diabetic status and age were the independent risk factors of PWV. They accounted for 57.0％ of the total variance. Conclusion  TheCAPD with low T3 syndrome is correlated with PWV, and the CAPD patients with low T3 syndrome show increased arterial stiffness. 

Key words:  Low T3 syndrome, Pulse wave velocity, Peritoneal dialysis, Arterial stiffness