Reference intervals for thyroid disorders calculated by indirect method and comparison with reference change values

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to calculate reference intervals (RIs) for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4) and free triiodothyronine (fT3) and evaluate the clinical significance of these intervals by use of reference change values (RCV) of the analytes. Materials and methodsLaboratory patient data between August and December 2021 were evaluated for the study. A total of 188,912 patients with TSH, fT4, fT3, anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (Anti-TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (Anti-Tg) results were evaluated. All measurements were performed on Cobas c801 (Roche Diagnostics, Penzberg, Germany) using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay technology. Estimated RIs were compared with manufacturer’s by means of RCVs of analytes. ResultsThyroid stimulating hormone values didn’t differ significantly by gender and age. The combined RIs for whole group (N = 28,437) was found as 0.41-4.37 mIU/mL. Free T4 values (11.6-20.1 pmol/L, N = 13,479 in male; 10.5-19.5 pmol/L, N = 17,634 female) and fT3 values (3.38-6.35 pmol/L, N = 2,516 in male; 3.39-5.99 pmol/L, N = 3,348 pmol/L in female) significantly differed by gender (P < 0.050). Both fT4 and fT3 values also showed significant differences in age subgroups comparisons. So, male and female RIs were represented separately for age subgroups. When compared with manufacturer’s RIs, TSH whole group and fT4 subgroups RIs didn’t exceed the analytes’ RCVs, but this difference was greater for fT3. ConclusionsReference interval estimation by use of indirect method out of laboratory data may be more accurate than manufacturer provided RIs. This population based RIs evaluated using RCV of analytes may provide useful information in clinical interpretation of laboratory results

Czy galektyna-3 ma związek z nerkowym wydalaniem albumin w cukrzycy typu 2?

  Introduction: The relationship between galectin-3 and diabetes mellitus or renal function has recently been investigated. In this study, we tried to evaluate the association of galectin-3 in urinary albumin excretion levels in type 2 diabetic patients. Material and methods: In a group of 137 type 2 diabetes patients, the mean of the last three urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratios and galectin-3 levels were evaluated. The patient group was divided into three subgroups according to their level of albuminuria calculated with urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio. Results: There was no significant difference between the galectin values of the three subgroups. Significant differences were observed between GFR results of group 1 vs. 3 (p &lt; 0.0001) and group 2 vs. 3 (p = 0.0006), and serum creatinine results of group 1 vs. 3 (p = 0.0003) and group 2 vs. 3 (p &lt; 0.0001). The three subgroups did not reveal any significant difference concerning the age, BMI, duration of DM, FPG, and HbA1c levels. Conclusions: We concluded that serum galectin-3 values are not affected by the levels of urinary albumin excretion in DM patients. We could not find any relation between galectin-3 and the parameters of DM such as FPG, HbA1c, and duration of the disease. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (6): 580–584)    Wstęp: W ostatnim czasie badano związek między galektyną-3 a cukrzycą i czynnością nerek. Autorzy niniejszego badania podjęli próbę oceny związku galektyny-3 z wydalaniem albumin przez nerki u chorych na cukrzycę typu 2. Materiał i metody: W grupie 137 chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 obliczono średnią ostatnich trzech współczynników mikroalbuminy/kreatynina w moczu oraz pomiarów stężeń galektyny-3. Chorych podzielono na trzy podgrupy w zależności od nasilenia albuminuria określonego na podstawie współczynnika mikroalbuminy/kreatynina w moczu. Wyniki: Nie stwierdzono istotnych różnic pod względem stężeń galektyny między trzema podgrupami. Odnotowano natomiast istotne różnice wartości GFR między grupą 1 i 3 (p &lt; 0,0001) oraz grupą 2 i 3 (p = 0,0006) oraz stężeń kreatyniny między grupą 1 i 3 (p = 0,0003) oraz grupą 2 i 3 (p &lt; 0,0001). Podgrupy nie różniły się istotnie pod względem wieku, BMI, czasu trwania cukrzycy, FPG ani odsetka HbA1c. Wnioski: Autorzy wykazali, że stężenia galektyny-3 w surowicy nie zależą od nasilenia wydalania albumin z moczem u chorych na cukrzycę. Nie stwierdzono zależności między stężeniem galektyny-3 a parametrami charakteryzującymi cukrzycę, takimi jak FPG, HbA1c, czas trwania choroby. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (6): 580–584)