[Methemoglobin and osmoresistance of erythrocytes in patients with different types of goiter].

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of methemoglobin in the blood and osmoresistance of erythrocytes in patients with different types of goiter and control subjects. Investigated parameters indicate to the antioxidant status of human organism. We examined 12 healthy controls and 49 hyperthyroid patients: 17 patients with nodular goiter (mild thyrotoxicosis), 22 patients with diffuse toxic goiter (high level of thyrotoxicosis) and 10--with euthyroid nodule goiter. Osmoresistance of erythrocytes was measured by differential photoelectrocolorymetric method and methemoglobin--by spectroscopic method. We had received significant correlation between the level of methemoglobin, osmoresistance of erythrocytes and the degree of thyrotoxicosis. The results once again prove sensitivity of antioxidant status in response to toxicity, in particular against thyrotoxicosis.