Objective: To investigate the potential action mechanism and observe the effects of traditional Chinese medicine compound (TCMC) on the expressions of anti-thyroid autoantibodies of Hashimoto's thyroiditis

cluster differentiation antigen 4 (CD4+)T lymphocytes

serum interleukin-12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)

as well as the pathological changes of thyroid. Method: Seventy patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis were randomly divided into two groups on average (no significant difference in sex

age and disease course):treatment group and non-treatment group. The patients in treatment group were treated with TCMC (one dose/day and 12 weeks/course)

while the patients in non-treatment group were treated with Euthyrox by oral administration. Before and after treatment

free triiodothyronine (FT3)

free (unbound) thyroxin (e) (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were tested once respectively. CD4+ TC

thyroid globulin antibody (TGAb)

thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb)

IL-12 and TNF-α as thyroid immunological markers were also tested once respectively before and after treatment;coarse needle biopsy (CNB) was also done once respectively before and after treatment. Result: There was no statistically significant difference in thyroid function between two groups of patients before and after treatment

and there was no significant change in FT3

TSH

and FT4 in treatment group before and after treatment

indicating that Chinese medicine had no significant effect on thyroid hormone levels. Before treatment

there was no statistical difference in TGAb

TPOAb

IL-12

and TNF-α between two groups. CD4+ TC

TGAb

TPOAb

IL-12

TNF-α levels after treatment in treatment group were significantly lower than those before treatment and those in non-treatment group

indicating that this drug can well regulate immunity

reduce thyroid humoral immune damage

and promote tissue repair. Conclusion: This TCMC could mediate body immunity well

relieve the thyroid humoral immunity injury and accelerate the tissue repair

demonstrating protective and repairable function for the thyroid tissues of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.