Effects of 12 months treatment with L-selenomethionine on serum anti-TPO Levels in Patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the effects of selenium (Se) treatment on serum anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) levels in Greek patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT).


METHODS
We prospectively studied 80 women with HT, median age 37 (range 24-52) years, for 1 year. All patients received 200 microg Se in the form of l-selenomethionine orally for 6 months. At the end of the 6-month period, 40 patients continued taking 200 microg Se (Group A) and 40 patients stopped (Group B). Serum thyrotropin (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT(3)), free thyroxine (FT(4)), anti-TPO, and anti-thyroglobulin (Tg) levels were measured at baseline and at the end of each 3-month period.


RESULTS
There was a significant reduction of serum anti-TPO levels during the first 6 months (by 5.6% and 9.9% at 3 and 6 months, respectively). An overall reduction of 21% (p < 0.0001) compared with the basal values was noted in Group A. In Group B, serum anti-TPO levels were increased by 4.8% (p < 0.0001) during the second 6-month period.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that in HT patients 6 months of Se treatment caused a significant decrease in serum anti-TPO levels, which was more profound in the second trimester. The extension of Se supplementation for 6 more months resulted in an additional 8% decrease, while the cessation caused a 4.8% increase, in the anti-TPO concentrations.
Mazokopakis
Elias E
EE
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. elmazokopakis@yahoo.gr
Papadakis
John A
JA
Papadomanolaki
Maria G
MG
Batistakis
Antony G
AG
Giannakopoulos
Triantafillos G
TG
Protopapadakis
Eftichios E
EE
Ganotakis
Emmanuel S
ES
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012643:Selenium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012645:Selenomethionine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001323:Autoantibodies; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D012645:Selenomethionine; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; D012643:Selenium