The behaviour of suppressor-inducer T cells following treatment for Graves' disease.
The expression of surface markers of T cell subsets in the peripheral blood of 30 Graves' disease patients was investigated pre and post therapy using two colour flow cytometry. Reduced numbers of total, helper/inducer and suppressor/cytotoxic T cells were found in untreated Graves' patients. Numbers of suppressor-inducer T cells which are associated with maintaining the normal immune response, did not differ significantly between untreated Graves' patients and controls. Although 8 weeks' Carbimazole therapy reversed the changes in total, helper/inducer and suppressor/cytotoxic T cells, PTU or 131I therapy did not. While suppressor-inducer T cell numbers were not affected by Carbimazole or PTU therapy, 131I treatment caused a decrease in suppressor-inducer T cell numbers.
Wilson
R
R
University Department of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
Pearson
C
C
McKillop
J H
JH
Burnett
A K
AK
Thomson
J A
JA
D002231:Carbimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D002231:Carbimazole