Failure of haemagglutination and immunofluorescence methods to detect serum orbital antibodies in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy.
Serum antibodies against human, bovine, and guinea-pig, orbital antigens were tested for in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy using haemagglutination and immunofluorescence techniques. Although low titres of antibodies were demonstrated in a small proportion of patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy, the prevalence was similar to that for normal subjects using both tests. The significance of these findings and the evidence for a role of autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of Graves' ophthalmopathy are discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009915:Orbit / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies