title: Relationship of antibodies to thyrotropin receptors and to thyroid ultrasonographic volume in euthyroid and hypothyroid patients with autoimmune thyroiditis.
abstract: It has been reported in hypothyroid patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and in patients with primary myxoedema that antibodies (Ab) to the TSH-receptor (R), which inhibit the thyroid gland, decrease both thyroid hormonogenesis and cell growth in vitro. We investigated, in 169 newly diagnosed patients with euthyroid (n = 83) or hypothyroid (n = 86) autoimmune thyroiditis, the relationship between thyroid autoimmunity expression and thyroid ultrasonographic volume or thyroid hormonal status. In patients positive for TSH-receptor (R) antibodies (Ab), negative correlations (P < 0.01) were found between TSH-R Ab levels and free T4 (FT4) values in a euthyroid (r = -0.63), as well as in a hypothyroid (r = -0.54) state, and between TSH-R Ab and total thyroid volume (TTV) values in an euthyroid (r = -0.62) as well as in a hypothyroid (r = -0.53) state. In contrast, no positive correlations were found between TSH levels and FT4 values or TTV levels in patients positive as well as negative for TSH-R Ab in an euthyroid or in a hypothyroid state. These data demonstrate in vivo, that, in contrast to TSH, TSH-R Abs are related to both thyroid hormonal production and volume in euthyroid or hypothyroid patients with autoimmune thyroiditis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Saint-Michel Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rieu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Portos
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lissak
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laplanche
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sambor
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Berrod
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fombeur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000276:immunology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine