Hashimoto’s thyroiditis masquerading as acute tubular injury and rhabdomyolysis

Abstract

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis manifesting as hypothyroidism has been implicated in glomerular disorders due to autoantibody formation. Here we present the case of a 26-year-old male without any comorbidities presenting with easy fatiguability and weight gain for 2 months. He was found to have a creatinine of 2.1 mg/dL with a history of rhinitis treated with anti-histaminic three days prior to the hospital visit. He had symptoms of intermittent myalgia for the past two weeks. On laboratory evaluation, he was found to have raised CPK, elevated TSH, low normal T4, and positive anti-TPO and anti-Tg antibodies. Neck ultrasound revealed linear echogenic septations in the thyroid gland. Renal biopsy revealed acute tubular injury. Appropriate thyroxine supplementation was started and his creatinine decreased to 1.2 mg/dL after 1 month. It is important that clinicians should be aware of this rare kidney presentation in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.