Endocrine Abstracts

The aim of the present research was to assess changes in the degree of peripheral blood (PB) lymphocyte apoptosis during methimazole treatment in the group of teenage children.

Material and methods: The percentage of PB apoptotic lymphocytes, assessed by the decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential (CMXRos staining), was measured in 30 adolescents at the time of diagnosis, as well as after receiving the normalization of the thyroid hormones levels.

Results: The percentage of apoptotic lymphocytes in previously untreated patients with GD (5.16±2.81%) was significantly lower (P=0.000001) than the percentage of the apoptotic cells in the same group of patients after receiving methimazole-induced euthyreosis (10.72±4.66%). There was a correlation between the increase of the mean percentages of apoptotic lymphocytes and the reduction of the FT4 levels (R=0.63, P<0.0001), as well as the reduction of TT3 levels (R=0.95, P<0.0001). The more signs and symptoms accompanied the diagnosis of the GD, the higher increment of the degree of lymphocyte apoptosis was observed during the MMI-treatment (R=0.74, P<0.0000001). The methimazole dosage correlated (R=0.85, P<0.0001) with the percentages of apoptotic cells.

Conclusions: Apoptosis induction of human PB lymphocytes seems to be one of the indicators of proper hyperthyroidism treatment.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This work was supported, however funding details unavailable.