Graves' disease: thyroid function and immunologic activity.
Patients with Graves' disease were studied for two years during and after a twelve-month course of treatment. Disease activity was determined by repeated measurements of thyroidal uptake of [99mTc]pertechnetate during tri-iodothyronine administration. These in-vivo measurements of thyroid stimulation were compared with the results of in-vitro assays of Graves, immunoglobulin (TSH binding inhibitory activity--TBIA). There was no correlation between the thyroid uptake and TBIA on diagnosis. Pertechnetate uptake and TBIA both declined during the twelve months of antithyroid therapy. TBIA was detectable in sera from 19 of the 27 patients at diagnosis; in 11 of these 19 patients there was a good correlation (p less than 0.05) throughout the course of their disease between the laboratory assay of the Graves, immunoglobulin and the thyroid uptake. Probability of recurrence can be assessed but sustained remission of Graves' disease after treatment cannot be predicted from either measurement alone or in combination.
D000328:Adult; D002231:Carbimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D013667:Technetium; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D013667:Technetium; D002231:Carbimazole; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m