title: Selenomethionine treatment in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis: a prospective, quasi-randomised trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether selenium administration affects autoantibodies to thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and thyroglobulin (anti-TG) titres in chronic autoimmune (Hashimoto's - HT) thyroiditis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, open-label, quasi-randomised study in 86 HT patients (n = 86) assigned to either selenomethionine (Seme) 200μg daily for 3 months (Se3, n = 15) or 6 months (Se6, n = 46) or placebo (Control, n = 25). Serum Se, anti-TPO, anti-TG and thyroid hormones were measured in all patients at baseline, 3 and 6 months. A subgroup of 18 patients (twelve on Se6 and six controls) were subjected in thyroid fine-needle biopsy at baseline and 6 months to detect changes in lymphocyte infiltration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference in anti-TPO levels was recorded after 3 (p = 0.88) or 6 months (p = 0.62) on Seme. Anti-TG levels decreased both at 3 months (p = 0.001) and 6 months (p = 0.001). No significant changes in thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine levels or in the lymphocytes' number in thyroid cytology specimens were detected. Age, gender, duration of disease, baseline anti-TPO levels and per cent change in Se levels could not predict the response of anti-TPO levels to Seme administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that Seme administration in pharmacological doses for a period of 6 months seems to have no significant effect on serum thyroid auto-antibodies' levels or lymphocyte infiltration of the thyroid gland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, 424 Military Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. anastath@endo.gr
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Anastasilakis
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Toulis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nisianakis
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Goulis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kampas
authors.forename: R-M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Valeri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oikonomou
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Tzellos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delaroudis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012645:Selenomethionine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D012645:Selenomethionine; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase