Covid and Decreased eGFR

[OKShakespeare]

I had eGFR of 59 before I had a comparatively mild case of Covid in April. About 2 months after the virus my eGFR tested at 51. I am 74 and my e GFR has been decreasing for years but no dr. ever brought my attention to kidney failure . I also have Hashimoto's and genetic high homocysteine so inflammation is an issue. I plan to go for thyroid tests soon to prove to myself that Synthroid (T-4) is not the correct med for me. I told the dr. that my previous test showed I was not converting T4 to T3 but she refuses to give me T3. because the Endocrinology team does not "believe" it is a good med for anyone. If my thyroid test proves me correct I will have to go elsewhere for my T 3 thyroid med and start taking that because I think it has a lot to do with decreasing kidney function. On the other hand I wonder how much damage has been caused by Covid. Does anyone have an experience with Covid causing irreversible or temporary damage?

[Sophiebun11]

Hi OKShakespeare,

I had mild or moderate COVID in July of 2019. I didn't have to be hospitalized but did have to take antibiotics for a bronchial infection due to my asthma which was worsened by COVID. My eGFR had been declining beforehand and only altered a little after than but I did proceed to Stage 4. I don't attribute it to COVID-19 although severe cases can cause permanent lung injury and acute kidney injury/failure which is different than CKD.

Here's a PubMed study on the kidneys and COVID:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/327...

Low thyroid function can effect the kidneys. You'll need to find another Endocrinologist if you disagree with the one you have since you'll need a prescription. I take Levothyroxine myself. I've been on it for approx. 15 years. My Neph. didn't think it was a renal toxic medication when he reviewed all my meds and switched a couple and discontinued a couple and added one, Prednisone.

Here's an article from PubMed on hypothyroid and kidneys:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/209...

Best wishes finding a Dr. who will help get you squared away.

[Marvin8 in reply to Sophiebun11]

Association doesn't necessarily mean causation. I'd look at more research before drawing conclusions.

[Sophiebun11 in reply to Marvin8]

I wasn't drawing any conclusions, I merely passed along information that the government makes available to physicians and patients.

[OKShakespeare in reply to Sophiebun11]

I wonder why my doctors (more than a few) have never drawn my attention to kidney failure resulting from low thyroid function. If anyone had ever even mentioned that my out of control TSH signalled that I should try harder to get it under control I would have been more attentive. But because I was feeling relatively OK and not knowing which of my symptoms was related to diminishing thyroid function I just didn't get with the program. Now I am paying the price of ignorance.

[Skeptix]

I haven't got my figures to hand but I was 7 years getting from eGFR mid 50's at CKD diagnosis to mid 40's. Then in 1 year I dropped to low 30's. I had a moderate bout of Covid in the interim.

My RD says they've seen a large increase in kidney injury so doubtless there is an effect with Covid. But whether that explain my or your experience, I dunno.

A 12 point drop in a year vs less than 2 points per year is something of a pointer perhaps and my RD ain't excluding the connection.

[OKShakespeare in reply to Skeptix]

I have read about the negative effect that a serious bout of Covid can cause including affecting some previously healthy people who needed dialysis. Some recovered totally but many did not. Not much has been written about after effects suffered by those who have relatively mild infections. One kidney damage theory suggests that small blood clots travel to the kidney. Another suggests that the organ is targeted by the virus. I wonder if anyone here has used pentoxyfillene to support kidney function because it dilates small capillaries. It is used for people with intermittent claudication.