Can dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis be an effective marker in the diagnosis of nodular goiter and thyroid cancer?

Aim: The oxidative stress has an important role in thyroid pathologies by nature of thyroid gland. Dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis is one of the markers of oxidative stress and its counterpart antioxidants in the body. In our study, the dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis was investigated in cases underwent surgery due to thyroid cancer or nodular goiter. Material and Methods: The study included patients who underwent thyroidectomy in General Surgery Department of Keçiören Teaching and Research Hospital between 01.03.2017 and 01.06.2017. The patients were assigned into groups according to postoperative histopathological examination: group 1 included patients with benign lesion in histopathology report and group 2 included patients with malignant lesions in histopathology report. The patients who had no pathology in sonography and did not undergo surgery were assigned into group 3 as controls. In all patients, venous blood samples were drawn to evaluate dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis before surgery. Results: In the study, 98 cases underwent bilateral total thyroidectomy; 77 of which had benign disease and 21 of which had malignant disease. Native thiol values (µmol/L) were 317.4±4.2, 349.9±7.9 and 299.9±7.9 (p=0) while total thiol values (µmol/L) were 353.5±4.8, 386.5±9.5 and 332.6±8.3 (p=0) and disulfide values (µmol/L) were 18.4±0.5, 20.5±0.7 and 16.7±0.6 (p=0) in group 1 (benign disease), group 2 (malignant disease) and group 3 (controls), respectively. In addition disulfide: native thiol was 5.8±0.1, 5.9±0.2 and 5.7±0.2 (p=0.8) while disulfide: total thiol was 5.2±0.1, 5.4±0.2 and 5.1±0.2 and native thiol: total thiol was 89.9±0.5, 90.7±0.5 and 90.5±1.5 (p=0.4) in group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Conclusion: The dynamic thiol-disulfide homeostasis can be used as a marked in the thyroid diseases; however, further studies with larger sample are needed.