[The status of redox system in patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis]

The aim of present investigation was to study redox processes and to establish state of blood oxidative and antioxidant systems in patients with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (CAT). 19 patients with CAT (2 males, 17 females; mean age 35,3+/-14,8 years) have been randomly investigated, of which 3 patients (15,8%) had hypothyroidism, 11 (57,9%) - euthyroidism and 5 (26,3%) - hyperthyroidism. Control group consisted of 10 practically healthy subjects (2 males, 8 females; mean age 41,1+/-11,7 years). The parameters of blood redox-system were investigated by electron-paramagnetic resonance method (EPR). The value of ceruloplasmin in patients with CAT was significantly higher than in control group (20,0+/-2,0 mm/mg vs. 16,0+/-1,1 mm/mg, p<0,001); EPR-signal of Fe3+ - transferrin in main group was also significantly higher (18,5+/-1,3 mm/mg vs. 22,0+/-0,9 mm/mg, p<0,001); values of nitric oxide in both groups were almost identical. EPR-signals of methemoglobin significantly correlated with thyroid volume (r=0,5421, p=0,016). These changes demonstrate possible relationship between CAT and blood redox system. It should be supposed that the introduction of antioxidant preparations will improve CAT pathogenetic therapy.