title: HIGHER SERUM OSTEOPROTEGERIN LEVELS IN SUBJECTS WITH THYROID NODULES.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A recent study demonstrated that osteoprotegerin (OPG) could be expressed both in benign and malignant thyroid tissue. However, epidemiologic studies investigating the association between serum OPG and thyroid nodules are not available. The objective of this study was to determine whether serum OPG is associated with thyroid nodules.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured serum OPG, total triiodothyronine, total thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, thyrotropin, antithyroid peroxidase antibodies, thyrotropin-receptor antibodies, antithyroglobulin antibodies, and thyroglobulin in 1,120 Chinese participants in a cross-sectional community-based study performed in downtown Shanghai. Thyroid nodule was diagnosed by thyroid ultrasonographic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum OPG levels were significantly increased in nodule-positive subjects compared to nodule-negative subjects (2.8 ± 1.2 ng/mL versus 2.1 ± 1.0 ng/mL; P<.001). After multiple adjustments, the odds ratios were substantially higher for thyroid nodule (odds ratio, 3.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.60 to 5.97) in the highest OPG quartile compared with those in the lowest quartile. These associations remained significant after further adjustment for potential confounders. Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that age (P = .015) and OPG (P = .003) were independently associated with thyroid nodule.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum OPG is elevated significantly in subjects with thyroid nodules among middle-aged and elderly individuals.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yixin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Xiaoyong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood*; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D053244:Osteoprotegerin