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Serum cytokines and bone metabolism in patients with thyroid dysfunction

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Abstract

Hyperthyroidism is associated with increased bone turnover. Besides the hormones of calcium metabolism, locally produced factors are important in maintaining normal bone metabolism. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), in particular, has a major influence on bone turnover. In this study, serum IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels, as well as bone turnover markers and relationships between them, were investigated in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. A total of 20 female patients with hyperthyroidism, 15 with subclinical hyperthyroidism, 16 with hypothyroidism, and 15 with subclinical hypothyroidism constituted the patient groups. In all, 15 age-matched healthy female volunteers were recruited as controls. When compared with controls, serum TNF-a levels showed no significant difference in any of the patient groups (P<.05). In the groups with hyperthyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism, IL-6 levels were significantly higher compared with control group values (P< .05). Hyperthyroid patients showed higher levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin, and a higher urinary deoxypyridinoline/creatinine ratio, compared with controls (P< .05). In subclinical hyperthyroidism, only ALP was found to be higher compared with control values. No significant correlations were made in any group between serum IL-6 or TNF-α level and bone turnover markers. Results suggest that serum IL-6 level and markers of bone turnover rate seem to be increased in hyperthyroidism. This finding may support the role of IL-6 in induction of bone turnover in hyperthyroid states.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Yüzüncü Yil University, Van, Turkey

    M. Ramazan Sekeroglu PhD (Prof), Z. Büsra Altun MSc, Haluk Dülger PhD (Assoc Prof), Tevfik Noyan MD (Assoc Prof) & Ragip Balaharoglu MD

  2. Department of Endocrinology, Yüzüncü Yil University, Van, Turkey

    Ekrem Algün MD (Assoc Prof) & Mustafa Öztürk MD (Assist Prof)

Authors
  1. M. Ramazan Sekeroglu PhD
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  2. Z. Büsra Altun MSc
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  3. Ekrem Algün MD
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  4. Haluk Dülger PhD
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  5. Tevfik Noyan MD
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  6. Ragip Balaharoglu MD
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  7. Mustafa Öztürk MD
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Sekeroglu, M.R., Altun, Z.B., Algün, E. et al. Serum cytokines and bone metabolism in patients with thyroid dysfunction. Adv Therapy 23, 475–480 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02850169

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