An evaluation of thyrotoxic autoimmune thyroiditis patients with triplex Doppler ultrasonography.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of blood flow parameters obtained from STA and CCA with Triplex Doppler ultrasonography (TDU) on patients with thyrotoxicosis.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study included consecutive 24 patients with thyrotoxicosis and 18 healthy controls. The thyroid gland blood flow parameters were evaluated with TDU.

Results: The thyroid volumes and FT3, TRAb, 4-h and 24-h radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) levels of Group 1 were significantly high compared to those of Group 2. The thyroid volumes and FT3, FT4 and TSH levels of both Group 1 and Group 2 showed a statistically significant difference compared to Group 3. STA-PSV values for Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 were 138 cm/s, 54 cm/s and 37 cm/s, respectively. STA-EDV values for these groups were 60 cm/s, 25 cm/s and 15 cm/s, respectively. PSVR values for these groups were 1.01, 0.45, 0.34 cm/s, respectively. EDVR values for these groups were 1.29, 0.70 and 0.49 cm/s, respectively. In Group 1, STA-PSV, STA-EDV, PSVR and EDVR values were significantly high compared to those of Group 2. RAIU levels showed a significant positive correlation with the STA-PSV, STA-EDV and PSVR.

Conclusion: The thyroid gland blood flow parameters may be used in clinical diagnosis of patients with thyrotoxicosis.