title: Correlation of HLA and thyroid antibodies with clinical course of thyrotoxicosis treated with antithyroid drugs.
abstract: The prevalence of HLA-B8 in thyrotoxic (Graves' disease) patients who relapsed after withdrawal of antithyroid drugs was high (69%) compared with that in patients who remained in remission (40%) and in healthy controls (28%). B8-positive patients were 1-8 times more likely to relapse after withdrawal of drug therapy than B8-negative patients. The persistence of thyroid microsomal antibodies after withdrawal of therapy correlated significantly with the presence of HLA-B8. This association was more pronounced in patients who remained in remission. From this it might be assumed that B8 is also associated with the persistence of thyroid T.S.H. (thyroid-stimulating hormone) receptor stimulating antibodies. In view of these findings, it is suggested that patients who are thyrotoxic might be typed for HLA, and those who are B8-negative could be given a trial of long-term antithyroid drug therapy.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000276:immunology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D006680:HLA Antigens; D013954:Thyroglobulin