title: The association between thyroid volume, L-thyroxine therapy and hepatocyte growth factor levels among patients with euthyroid and hypothyroid goitrous and non-goitrous Hashimoto's thyroiditis versus healthy subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most common etiology of hypothyroidism in regions where iodine deficiency is not a concern. To date, many clinical investigations have been conducted to elucidate its pathogenesis. Several growth factors have been shown to have a role in its development. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is one of the aforementioned molecules. We aimed to demonstrate whether HGF is responsible for HT and goiter development. Also, we aimed to test the hypothesis that levo-thyroxine sodium therapy will suppress HGF levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one premenopausal women who were admitted to our outpatient clinic between November 2010 and September 2011 were enrolled. Three groups were determined according to their thyroid function tests (TFTs) as euthyroid Hashimoto's, control and subclinical hypothyroid Hashimoto's groups. Basal TFTs, anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-tg), thyroid ultrasonography (USG) and HGF were studied and recorded. Subclinical hypothyroid HT patients received levo-thyroxine sodium replacement therapy, and were re-assessed for the same laboratory and radiologic features after a median 3.5 month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Basal HGF levels were not different between groups. In the subclinical hypothyroidism group, HGF levels (752.75 ± 144.91 pg/ml vs. 719.37 ± 128.05 pg/ml; p = 0.496) and thyroid volumes (12.51 ± 3.67 cc vs. 12.18 ± 4.26 cc; p = 0.7) before and after treatment did not change significantly. No correlations were found between HGF and other parameters. HGF levels were similar between subjects with nodular goiter and normal thyroid structure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HGF was not shown to be associated with HT and goiter development. In addition, levo-thyroxine sodium replacement therapy did not alter serum HGF levels significantly.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Internal Medicine.
authors.forename: Mustafa Kemal
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.affiliation: b Department of Radiology.
authors.forename: Yakup
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yesilkaya
authors.affiliation: c Department of Internal Medicine , Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
authors.forename: Kadriye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tezcan
authors.affiliation: c Department of Internal Medicine , Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
authors.forename: Nese
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cinar
authors.affiliation: c Department of Internal Medicine , Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
authors.forename: Safak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akin
authors.affiliation: d Department of Biostatistics , Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Jale
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karakaya
authors.affiliation: b Department of Radiology.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Akata
authors.affiliation: c Department of Internal Medicine , Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
authors.forename: Aydan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usman
authors.affiliation: c Department of Internal Medicine , Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gurlek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006042:Goiter / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C066855:HGF protein, human; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D013974:Thyroxine
keywords: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis; Nodular goiter; hepatocyte growth factor; hypothyroidism