Abstract:
Background : Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a common disease in diffuse thyroid goiter. It has been postulated that a decrease in thyroid size can be achieved by levothyroxine treatment in patients with euthyroid goitrous Hashimoto's thyroiditis but no objective data are available. Objective : To assess the influence of levothyroxine treatment on ultrasonically determined thyroid size of euthyroid goitrous Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Patients and Methods : Thirty-one women participated ; all had euthyroid goitrous Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Levothyroxine or placebo was given orally in an experimental randomized controlled trial. Thyroid size was measured ultrasonically, serum TSH, fre thyroxine level was measured at baseline, 3 month and 6 month after treatment. Results : Thyroid size decreased in both groups, the average percentage change of thyroid volume were 82.63+-16.18% and 91.60+-23.11% from the original thyroid volume in treatment group and controlled group respectively. Between groups there was no statistically significant difference; (p=0.150). Conclusion : The effect of levothyroxine and placebo on the average percentage change of thyroid volume was no statistically significant difference