Changes in serum thyroglobulin and antithyroglobulin shortly following high-intensity focused ablation of benign thyroid nodules in patients with positive antithyroglobulin status

摘要

We aimed to describe changes in serum thyroglobulin (Tg) and anti-Tg autoantibody shortly following high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation in patients with positive anti-Tg status by comparing them with patients with negative anti-Tg and to correlate them with 6-month nodule shrinkage and treatment success. From 2015 to 2017, patients who underwent HIFU ablation of a benign thyroid nodule were analysed. Serum Tg and anti-Tg were checked on treatment day (baseline) and 4?days after treatment. Anti-Tg 99?IU/ml were considered positivity. Percentage Tg or anti-Tg change?=?[Level on Day-4 - baseline level]/[Baseline level]?×?100 while nodule shrinkage was measured by volume reduction ratio (VRR)?=?[Baseline volume - volume at 6 month]/[Baseline volume]?×?100. Treatment success was defined as VRR 50%. Among the 276 eligible patients, 85 (30.8%) patients were positive for anti-Tg (Group I) while the others (n?=?191, 69.2%) were negative (Group II). Relative to group II, Group I had a less significant Tg rise on Day 4 (4121.78?±?9321.90% vs. 5711.53?±?23487.20%, p?=?.013). There was a fall in anti-Tg on day 4 for group I (-11.56?±?139.69%). This percentage anti-Tg drop significantly correlated with the 6-month VRR (ρ?=?-0.602, p?=?.030) but was not a significant factor of treatment success. Given the fact that the percentage anti-Tg drop correlated significantly with 6-month nodule shrinkage in group I, monitoring early anti-Tg change may help to predict the 6-month nodule shrinkage in patients with positive anti-Tg.