title: Change of circulating thyroid autoantibody titers in Graves' hyperthyroidism after antithyroid drugs therapy.
abstract: Parallel measurements of circulating thyroglobulin (Tg), microsomal [TPO(mic)] and TSH-receptor antibodies [TSH-R(rr)] were performed in 30 cases of Graves' hyperthyroid patients who received antithyroid drug (ATD) therapy for 2.8 +/- 1.7 years (range: 0.5-5.0 years). Before ATD therapy, positive Tg, TPO(mic) and TSH-R(rr) antibodies were found in 33.3%, 83.3% and 86.7% of our patients with Graves' disease, respectively. The titers of Tg and TPO(mic) antibodies remained unchanged in most patients after ATD treatment. However, the TSH-R(rr) antibody titers decreased in 46.7%, elevated in 26.7% and unchanged in 26.7% after ATD therapy. Six cases got long-term remission. Measurements of Tg and TPO antibodies have no value in forecasting the outcome of the disease. The change of circulating TSH-R(rr) antibody from positive to negative is more predictive of remission after ATD therapy than the decrease of thyrotropin-binding inhibiting immunoglobulin index only. However, the former change indicating a persistent remission is not certain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, R.O.C.
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: F Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000276:immunology; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000032:analysis; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; C056626:thyroid microsomal antibodies; D013954:Thyroglobulin