Soluble tumour necrosis factor-alpha receptor I and interleukin-6 as markers of activity in thyrotoxic Graves' disease.
Autoimmune thyroid diseases are thought to be mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNFalpha and IL-6. Serum levels of cytokines may indicate activity levels of immune functions. We investigated serum levels of IL-6 and of the soluble receptor of TNFalpha in patients with newly diagnosed onset of Graves' hyperthyroidism. The predominantly female group consisted of 39 patients, mean fT4 was 47.6 pg/ml (normal values 7.5=19.0 pg/ml). After diagnosis, all patients were treated with anti-thyroid drugs. Soluble Tumour Necrosis Factor Receptor I (TNF-RI) serum levels were found significantly increased (mean 3.7+/-1.3 ng/ml; p<0,01) compared to a matched group of apparent healthy individuals (mean sTNF-RI 1.8+/-0.5 ng/ml) and to a matched group of patients with treated Graves' disease (mean sTNF-RI 1.9+/-0.6 ng/ml). When IL-6 was assessed only 4 of the 39 patients exhibited increased serum levels. Our finding may indicate that sTNF-RI and possibly its ligand, TNFalpha, could play an important role in the onset of the acute stage of Graves' disease.
Pichler
R
R
Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrinology, General Hospital Linz, Austria. Robert.Pichler@akh.linz.at
Maschek
W
W
Hatzl-Griesenhofer
M
M
Huber
H
H
Crespillo-Gómez
C
C
Berg
J
J
D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D015850:Interleukin-6; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein