Serum thyroglobulin level in patients with diffuse and nodular goiter, after therapeutic application of stable iodine.

This study analysed the changes in serum thyroglobulin levels in euthyroid female patients, suffering from diffuse and scintigraphically functional nodular goiter, after therapeutic administration of two preparations of stable iodine: dried bovine thyroid, containing 100 mcg of iodine in one dragee (Thyral, Yugoslav Pharmacopea) and synthetic Na-salt L-thyroxine (Vobenol, with 100 mcg of iodine, too), for relatively short time of following-up, 8 weeks only. Having in mind the key role of TSH in regulation, all aspects of thyroid gland function, the interrelationship between TSH and thyroglobulin concentrations in those patients were also investigated. Prior to the therapy females had elevated thyroglobulin serum concentrations, caused by existence of diffuse and nodular goiter, which reflected an increase in intraglandular turnover of thyroglobulin (192 +/- 140 mcg/L in GROUP A further treated with Thyral and 121 +/- 14.80 +/- mcg/L in GROUP B, whose patients received Vobenol, mean +/- SD). Positive linear correlation between TSH and Tg levels was not established before therapy. Our data indicate that administration of two different preparations containing stable iodine in doses of 100 mcg every second day, during a two months period, resulted in significant decrease in the size of diffuse and nodular goiter, with diminished complains in a great number of patients. In thyroid humoral status, significant decrease of thyroglobulin concentrations was evident in both analysed groups (62 +/- 48 mcg/L, and 60 +/- 66, respectively). Presented results confirmed positive linear correlation between TSH and thyroglobulin in serum samples, after therapy, especially strong in the group treated with dried bovine thyroid.