Table 1.

Demographic and laboratory parameters of patients (before and one year later) (NS: nonsignificant)

	STEROID (n=29)		NSAID (n=33)		STEROID + NSAID (n=19)		p
Age (years)	43.2±11.3		41.6±10,7		39.4±9.4		NS
Male/Female	6/23		8/25		5/14		NS
(Reference values)	Pre-treatment	1 year later	Pre-treatment	1 year later	Pre-treatment	1 year later
TSH (0.5-4.4 uIU/mL)	0.4±1.0	2,8±2.8	0.32±0.6*	2.3±4.3	2.6±4.4*	3.3±2.6	*<0.05
FT3 (2-4.4 ng/dL)	6.5±3,3	2.8±0.6	6.0±3.5	2.9±0.5	5.1±2.7	2.8±0.5	NS
FT4 (0.93-1.7 ng/dL)	2.8±1.3*	1.1±0.4	2.4±1.3	1.2±0.3	2.0±1.4*	1.1±0.2	*<0.05
Anti-Tg (< 115 uIU/mL)	151±269.8	133±218.1	160±237.7	99±157.1	153.4±221.4	75±119.8	NS
Anti-TPO (< 34 uIU/mL)	11±5.6	9.2±5	22.3±33.9	37.5±68.9	19.4±18,6	15.4±16.5	NS
Thyroglobulin (ng/dL)	471±899	120±238	259.6±233.8	40±31	105.8±73.4	62.4±62.6	NS
ESR (< 20 mm/h)	43.3±15.7*	13.2±7.4	47.9±23.1¥	16±17.5§	24.9±17.5*¥	6.6±2.9§	§*¥ <0.05
CRP (< 0.5 mg/l)	5.9±3.7	0.7±0.7	15.9±46.7	0.7±1	3.2±3.2	0.5±0.8	NS

In the TSH row; * the significant difference was found only in the pre-treatment TSH levels between NSAID and Steroid + NSAID groups (gray coded).

In the FT4 row; * the significant difference was found only in pre-treatment FT4 levels between Steroid and steroid+NSAID groups (gray coded).

In the ESR row; * the significant difference was found in pre-treatment ESR levels between steroid+NSAID and Steroid groups (gray coded).

¥ the significant difference was also found in pre-treatment ESR levels between steroid+NSAID and NSAID groups (gray coded).

§ the significant difference was found 1 year later in ESR levels between steroid+NSAID and NSAID groups.