The diagnosis of HT was made with a heterogeneous appearance on thyroid ultrasonography and an increase in at least one of the thyroid antibodies [antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) (24 Alegria® strips, product ORG 203, range 0-3000 IU/mL, cut-off 75 IU/mL, Orgentec Co., Germany) and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg) (24 Alegria® strips, product ORG 202, range 0-9000 IU/mL, cut-off 150 IU/mL, Orgentec Co.)] measured in serum. Here, TG is linked to hematocrit.