Introduction: The thyroid gland is one of the most important endocrine glands in the body. Goitre is an abnormal thyroid enlargement, and it is considered one of the most common endocrinal conditions encountered in the Iraqi population. Numerous pathological conditions, such as thyroid cancers, are associated with LGR5 expression. The LGR5 receptor is similar in its structure to the TSH receptor, this may explain the role of LGR5 in thyroidal pathophysiology.
Objectives: Our study will attempt to explore the expression of LGR5 factor in goitrous patients and try to make a comparison between goitrous and non-goitrous (normal thyroid) ones.
Materials and Methods: Participants were assigned into three groups: toxic goitre cases, non-toxic goitre cases, and controls. Histologic specimens were collected from the patients and studied by immunohistochemical staining for the LGR5 factor. These were quantitated and tested statistically against other indices such as age, gender, and the presence of thyroid toxicity.
Results: Goitrous patients have been shown to express a substantially higher level of LGR5 factors as compared to controls. Patients with toxic goitre had noticeably higher LGR5 levels than patients with non-toxic goitre. Clinically-toxic patients had prominently higher LGR5 levels and in particular when they get older as compared to patients with nontoxic goitre.
Conclusion: Nevertheless, the present study has a high evidence level, but it might possess some limitations. Interestingly, the study denotes the first original retrospective hospital-based case-control research in connection with the examination of LGR5 expression in thyroid tissues of patients from the Iraqi population.