Effect of Levothyroxine Suppression Therapy on Plasma Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor Antigen Levels in Benign Thyroid Nodules

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the effect of LT4 suppression therapy on plasma thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) antigen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels in benign thyroid nodules. We also compared hyperthyroid patients and healthy controls. Subjects and Methods: Twenty premenopausal women with benign thyroid nodules were given LT4 suppression therapy for 1 year. Plasma TAFI and PAI-1 antigen levels were measured at baseline and after LT4 suppression treatment. The endogenous hyperthyroid group was composed of 19 premenopausal females with newly diagnosed endogenous hyperthyroidism. Eighteen age-matched euthyroid healthy premenopausal women were enrolled as the control group. Results: TAFI antigen levels decreased after LT4 suppression treatment; however, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.057). LT4 treatment resulted Received: June 1, 2009 Revised: July 21, 2009 Dr. Baris Akinci Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine University of Dokuz Eylul TR–35340 Inciralti, Izmir (Turkey) Tel. +90 232 412 3744, Fax +90 232 279 2267, E-Mail baris.akinci @ deu.edu.tr © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel 1011–7571/11/0201–0023$38.00/0 Accessible online at: www.karger.com/mpp D ow nl oa de d by : 54 .7 0. 40 .1 1 11 /1 9/ 20 17 1 :2 0: 43 P M