Effect of Integrated Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine on Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Patients

What is Known and Objective. To explore the effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with levothyroxine (L-T4) on thyroid autoantibodies, inflammation, and sleep quality in Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients.Methods. Patients were randomly divided into group A and group B. Group A was treated with L-T4 alone, while group B was treated with integrated TCM and L-T4. TCM symptoms were quantified before and after treatment as well as PSQI. Blood samples were taken to detect clinical indicators and thyroid autoantibodies. Cytokines in serum and thyroid tissues were analyzed by ELISA and RT-PCR.Results and Discussion. Totally, 196 patients were enrolled in the study, and there were no differences between group A and group B at the baseline. TCM treatment effectively reduced the levels of TGAb and TPOAb and was a protective factor for the improvement of Hashimoto's thyroiditis antibody titers, p < 0.05. The serum expressions of IL-17A, IL-6, and IFN-gamma in group B after treatment were lower than those in group A and before, while the IL-10 level was raised from the baseline, p < 0.05. Similar results were found in the comparison of IL-17A, IFN-gamma, and IL-10 in thyroid tissues of group A, B, and control, p < 0.05. Besides, with integrated treatment, all TCM symptoms except for poor memory were improved as well as sleep quality and mood, p < 0.05. However, these changes were not observed before and after treatment with L-T4 in group A.What is New and Conclusion. The integrated treatment with TCM had a significant effect on thyroid autoantibodies, inflammation, and sleep quality in Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients and provided a new and effective method for future treatment.