Microalbuminuria in Pediatric Autoimmune Thyroid Disease: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Background: Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD), including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and Graves’ disease (GD), are the most common causes of acquired thyroid dysfunction in children and adolescents. Although thyroid and renal functions are closely interrelated, limited data exist on renal involvement in pediatric AITD. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of microalbuminuria in children and adolescents with HT and GD, and to explore potential associations with thyroid autoimmunity and functional status. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 64 pediatric patients with AITD (HT: n=29; GD: n=35) and 34 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. First-morning spot urine specimens were analyzed for microalbuminuria using urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). Microalbuminuria was defined as UACR of 30 - 300 mg/g (categorized as ≥30 mg/g). Results: A total of 98 participants (72 girls, 88 pubertal) were included. The prevalence of microalbuminuria was significantly higher in the HT group (17.2%) compared to GD (2.9%) and healthy controls (2.9%) (P = 0.042). However, no significant differences were observed in continuous UACR values across groups (P = 0.779). No correlation was found between UACR and thyroid autoantibody levels or thyroid functional status (all P > 0.05). Conclusion: This study is among the first to report an increased prevalence of microalbuminuria in children and adolescents with HT. While these findings suggest a potential link between AITD and renal alterations, larger longitudinal studies are warranted to determine whether microalbuminuria represents a transient phenomenon or an early marker of renal involvement in this population.