The main subject of the paper was to prove that beta-2-microglobulin (beta-2-m) exists in fluid taken from a thyroid gland cyst of the patients with non-toxic, nodular goitre with cysts and whether the confirmation of beta-2-m existence in fluid taken from a cyst may indicate the presence of autoimmunological process in thyroid glands. The research was carried out on a group of 36 patients operated on because of goitre. Patients with the thyroid cancer were except. The operations were carried out in the General Surgery Department of Hospital 1 in Sosnowiec from 1994 to 1999. The group of patients consisted of women aged between 13 to 75 years old (average 43 +/- 13.8 years). TSH, FT4 serum concentration in this investigated group were normal. The paper presents the beta-2-m existence in fluid taken from a thyroid gland cyst. It was confirmed that there was no differences between beta-2-m serum concentration in operated patients and in healthy controls. In 50% of patients operated on with thyroid cysts high antibody antithyroid peroxidase (antiTPO) serum concentration and in fluid taken from cyst was confirmed and statistically higher beta-2-m concentration in cyst fluid than beta-2-m concentration in serum.
Conclusions: The increased antiTPO concentration in serum and in a fluid taken from cyst and beta-2-m existence in cyst fluid point to the autoimmunological process taking place in half of the patients with thyroid cysts.