[Effect of glatiramer acetate (copaxone) on the structure and functions of the thyroid gland in patients with multiple sclerosis].

A study included 158 patients stratified into 3 groups: 57 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) of the main group who were treated with copaxone in dosage 20 mg/d during 4,3±2,6 years, 49 patients without MS with different neurological diseases of the control group and 52 patients diagnosed with "confirmed MS" in the remission stage who were not treated with disease-modifying drugs. Demographic data, severity of MS patient's state, ultra-sound and hormonal data assessing the thyroid gland function were analyzed. The results obtained in the study demonstrated the relative safety of copaxone in respect to changes in thyroid gland function, the low risk for the elevation of blood antibodies to thyreoperoxidase, changes of hormonal indices and the development of thyroid dysfunction.