Settings and Design: The aim was to study the changes in thyroid antibody and T lymphocyte subsets after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of thyroid nodules in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis.
Subjects and Methods: Patients (n = 135) with autoimmune thyroiditis and thyroid nodules were treated by RFA. The indices of thyroid function and thyroid antibody and T lymphocyte subsets were examined preoperation and on the 1^st day and the 1^st month after ablation. Any complications were recorded.
Statistical Analysis: The software SPSS 17.0.0 (version: 2008-8-23) running under Windows 8 was used for statistical analysis. The measurement data were expressed as x ± s, with P < 0.01 indicating a significant difference in the statistical data.
Results: Levels of free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone were in the normal range before ablation, and no significant changes occurred on the 1^st day or in the 1^st month after ablation. The change in the percentage of CD8+T cells and the absolute value of B cells were not statistically significant (P > 0.01), and the values were in the normal range. Compared with values recorded preoperation, the value of TG-Ab, TPO-Ab, CD4+/CD8+, the percentage of CD4+T cells, the absolute values of lymphocytes, T cells, CD4+T cells, and CD8+T cells decreased significantly at the 1^st day after ablation (P < 0.01) and then recovered to preoperative levels during the first 30 days after ablation (P > 0.01). Within 1 month after ablation, none of the patients had complications such as active bleeding, infection, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, parathyroid gland injury, skin scald, and so on.
Conclusions: After RFA of thyroid nodules in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, thyroid function is not affected and no serious complications occurred. TG-Ab and TPO-Ab levels can be significantly decreased, and the distribution of T lymphocyte subsets can be changed in the short term after ablation.


中文翻译：

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自身免疫性甲状腺炎患者甲状腺结节射频消融术后甲状腺抗体和T淋巴细胞亚群的变化


设置和设计：目的是研究自身免疫性甲状腺炎患者甲状腺结节射频消融（RFA）后甲状腺抗体和 T 淋巴细胞亚群的变化。
对象和方法：患有自身免疫性甲状腺炎和甲状腺结节的患者 ( n = 135) 接受 RFA 治疗。甲状腺功能和甲状腺抗体和T淋巴细胞亚群的指数进行了检查与术前的1^日当天和1 ^ST消融后一个月。记录任何并发症。
统计分析：采用Windows 8下SPSS 17.0.0（版本：2008-8-23）软件进行统计分析。测量数据表示为x ± s, P < 0.01 表示统计数据差异显着。
结果：游离T3，游离甲状腺素和促甲状腺激素水平在正常范围内消融之前，并没有显著变化发生在1^日当天或在1^日消融后一个月。CD8+T细胞百分比和B细胞绝对值变化无统计学意义（P >0.01），数值均在正常范围内。与术前记录值相比，TG-Ab、TPO-Ab、CD4+/CD8+值、CD4+T细胞百分比、淋巴细胞、T细胞、CD4+T细胞、CD8+T细胞绝对值显着降低在 1^日消融后第 1 天（P < 0.01），然后在消融后的前 30 天内恢复到术前水平（P > 0.01）。消融后1个月内，患者均未出现活动性出血、感染、喉返神经损伤、甲状旁腺损伤、皮肤烫伤等并发症。
结论：自身免疫性甲状腺炎患者行甲状腺结节RFA后，甲状腺功能不受影响，无严重并发症发生。TG-Ab和TPO-Ab水平可显着降低，消融后短期内可改变T淋巴细胞亚群分布。