Serum IL-6 and TNF-\alpha in Patients With Thyroid Disorders

Authors: Ahmet KIZILTUNÇ, Mahmut BASOĞLU, Bahattin AVCI, İlyas ÇAPOĞLU

Abstract: The study was designed to evaluate IL-6 and TNF-\alpha levels and to examine their relationship in 27 patients with hyperthroidism, 23 with hypothyroidism, and 18 with normal thyroid functions. Mean serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-\alpha in patients with untreated hyperthyroidism were higher than those of control group (p<0.001 for both). However, these values were lower in hypothyroidism than in the controls (p<0.01, p<0.001, respectively). After treatment, both of the patients groups had IL-6 and TNF-\alpha values in accordance with those of controls and these values were decreased in hyperthyroid patients (p<0.01), but increased in hypotyhroid ones (p<0.05). There were significant correlations between before and after treatment serum IL-6 and TNF-\alpha values in hyperthyroid patients (r=0.787, r=0.692, respectively) and between before and after treatment serum IL-6 and TNF-\alpha in hypothyroid patients (r=0.723, r=0.552, respectively). There were significant correlations between serum IL-6 and TNF-\alpha in control subjects (r=0.425). We concluded that serum IL-6 and TNF-\alpha are increased in patients with hyperthyroidism, but decreased in patients with hypothyroidism subjects, and become normal by successful surgical treatment or ten or more months after medical treatment.

Keywords: Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, IL-6, TNF--\alpha

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