title: The effect of thyroxine-suppressive therapy in patients with solitary non-toxic thyroid nodules -- a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: The efficacy of thyroxine (T(4)) for solitary non-toxic thyroid nodule remains uncertain. In this study, 60 patients with solitary non-toxic thyroid nodule were divided randomly into two groups. Group I (n = 30) received thyroxine 100 microg/day for 6 months and group II (n = 30) received placebo. The volume of the thyroid nodules in 11 patients decreased more than 50% after thyroxine therapy (36.7%, responders). In these 11 patients, the mean serum thyroglobulin level decreased significantly (340 +/- 115 to 162 +/- 86 microg/l, p < 0.01). Compared with the non-responders (n = 19, 63.3%), the serum thyroglobulin level before treatment was significantly higher (340 +/- 115 vs. 220 +/- 102 microg/l, p < 0.05). Thyroxine-suppressive therapy is proved as a useful tool in reducing nodule size in some patients with solitary thyroid nodules. The patients with a higher serum thyroglobulin level generally respond better to thyroxine-suppressive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Buddhist Tzu-Chi General Hospital, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: C-C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Y-J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: T-F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: W-C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: M-C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: S-W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine