Thyroid-infiltrating lymphocytes, thyroid function, and HLA-DR in juvenile autoimmune thyroiditis.
Eighteen patients with juvenile autoimmune thyroiditis were studied. At diagnosis 8 (44%) of the patients were euthyroid and 10 hypothyroid, whereas at the end of 6 to 12 months follow-up, 12 (66%) were euthyroid and 6 hypothyroid. All the patients were HLA-typed. The frequency of HLA-DR4 was increased in the patients when compared with the normal population, 63 vs 28% (p less than 0.01). An analysis of thyroid-infiltrating mononuclear cells revealed that the majority of the thyroid-infiltrating lymphocytes were T cells. More T lymphocytes and fewer B lymphocytes and HLA class II positive lymphocytes were found among the thyroid-infiltrating mononuclear cells in euthyroid than hypothyroid patients. The numbers of thyroid-infiltrating B lymphocytes correlated with the levels of thyroid microsomal antibodies. No correlation was found between thyroid function and thyroid antibodies.
Mäenpää
J
J
Department of Pediatrics, Aurora Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Lautenschlager
I
I
Nyberg
M
M
Koskimies
S
S
Kontiainen
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens