NODULAR GOITERS

Objective: The purpose of the study was to estimate the levels of amino sugars and glycosylatedproteins in the blood and thyroid tissues of the patients suffering from thyroid disorders. Study design: The study wascarried out at Basic Medical sciences Institute, J.P.M.C. Karachi. Period: From 1990 to 1992. Materials & Methods:Twenty control subjects and 35 thyroid patients (Non toxic goiter = 14, Non toxic nodular goiter = 12 and Toxic nodulargoiter=9) were studied. T4, TBG and T4/TBG ratio, serum and tissue glucose, protein, glycosylated proteins andhexosamine with their correlation coefficient (r) were estimated Results: Significantly raised levels of TBG in non toxicgoiter and toxic nodular goiter while T4/TBG ratio was significantly decreased in non toxic goiter and toxic nodulargoiter. In non toxic goiter patients correlation coefficient analysis showed a direct relationship (serum to tissue levels)of glucose(r=0.47), glycosylated proteins(r=0.40) and hexosamine (r=0.23) while an inverse relationship was found incase of protein(r= -0.38). In non toxic nodular group inverse relationship was only found in proteins (r= -0.48) estimationwhile direct correlation coefficient was observed in glucose (r= 0.29), glycosylated proteins (r=0.13) and in hexosamine(r=0.14). In toxic nodular group hexosamine shows a direct correlation coefficient(r=0.73)while glucose (= -0.53),proteins (r= -0.87)and glycosylated proteins(r= -0.12) have an inverse relationship. Conclusion: It was concluded fromcorrelation coefficient analysis (blood to tissue levels) that in non toxic goiter and non toxic nodular patients glucose,glycosylated protein and hexosamine showed a direct relationship while protein showed an inverse relationship.