Amiodarone therapy and autoimmune thyroid disease. Increase in a new monoclonal antibody-defined T cell subset.
T cell subsets in 10 patients receiving amiodarone were evaluated, and their thyroid function and antithyroid antibodies were assessed. A generalized increase in a recently discovered subset of T cells expressing a complex ganglioside antigen reacting with monoclonal antibody 3G5 was found. Two patients, one with hyperthyroidism and the other with euthyroid Graves' ophthalmopathy, had an additional T cell abnormality--marked increase in Ia-positive T cells (an abnormality typical of patients with spontaneous Graves' disease). In the hyperthyroid patient, the Ia-positive T cells disappeared within three weeks after amiodarone was discontinued. The other patients receiving amiodarone had normal numbers of Ia-positive T cells. These studies indicate that amiodarone alters a major resting T cell subset for almost all patients and is associated with T cells expressing the Ia antigen in selected patients. These T cell abnormalities suggest that amiodarone precipitates organ-specific autoimmunity in susceptible persons.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000276:immunology; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001572:Benzofurans; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D000638:Amiodarone