Reversible increase of serum activin A levels in women with Graves' disease.
The aim of this study was to analyze the serum levels of activin A in hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease. Serum activin A and FSH levels were measured in a total of 93 females (64 regularly cycling and 29 post-menopausal). Of these, 20 were hyperthyroid patients with Graves disease, 33 were euthyroid goitrous patients (20 had autoimmune thyroiditis AT and 13 only had goiter) representing the internal control group and 40 were healthy subjects representing the external control group. Serum levels of activin A were higher in goitrous patients with AT than in control subjects (p=0.0388). Activin A levels were almost doubled in the cycling and in post-menopausal hyperthyroid women (0.91+/-0.21 vs 0.43+/-0.07 microg/l; p<0.0001 and 0.92+/-0.22 vs 0.48+/-0.24 microg/l; p=0.0001, respectively). In 10 cycling hyperthyroid patients, studied even after methimazole treatment, that increase was substantially reversed, once euthyroidism was attained (p=0.002). These findings indicate that thyroid function and autoimmune processes significantly affect serum levels of activin A in patients with Graves' disease.
Centanni
M
M
Endocrinology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. tempenni@libero.it
Viceconti
N
N
Luisi
S
S
Reis
F M
FM
Gargano
L
L
Maiani
F
F
Franchi
A
A
Canettieri
G
G
Petraglia
F
F
D028341:Activins / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits / Q000097:blood*; D008713:Methimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D001323:Autoantibodies; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins; D008713:Methimazole; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits; D013974:Thyroxine