We have explored the method of Rapoport et al. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1984;58:332-8) for the bioassay of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) in cultured human thyroid cells, to optimize the assay and to evaluate its utility in clinical diagnosis and management of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. Here we describe the procedure ultimately adopted, its major properties, and the res...

CONTEXT When the liver function tests are aggravated after starting antithyroid drugs (ATDs) in Graves' hyperthyroidism, discontinuation of ATDs is generally considered. However, a question arises whether such aggravation constitutes an adverse effect of the drugs or not. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of thyrotoxicosis on liver function tests, comparing the resu...

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland mediated by T cells. CD28, a member of costimulatory molecules, plays a pivotal role in regulating T-cell responses. Plasma-soluble CD28 is one form of CD28 in peripheral blood. To investigate the concentrations of soluble CD28 in patients with Graves' disease, we used a sensitive dual monoclonal antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immun...

pretibial myxedema is an uncommon manifestation of graves' disease and because of its rarity, information regarding its natural course and its relationship with other manifestations of graves' disease is not sufficient. we reviewed 150 consecutive cases diagnosed as having pretibial myxedema in a twenty-year period in a tertiary care center. only one patient in this group did not have ophthalmo...

32 patients (19 female. 13 male)• suffering from Graves' disease with exophthalmus and five without exophthalmus were studied for various autoantibodies including anti-thyroglobulin (ATAB). anti-microsomal antibody (AMAB). anti-parietal antibodies (APAB) and also circulating immune complex (CrC). 43 normal subjects were tested concurrently. Immunofluorescent technique was employed for auto...

Graves’ disease was first recognized in the 19th century as a syndrome comprising an enlarged and overactive thyroid gland, an accelerated heart rate, and ocular abnormalities (Fig. 1). Critical for our current understanding of this disease was the discovery of its autoimmune basis, which results from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors.1,2 Graves’ disease has adverse...

In juvenile patients with Graves’ disease, extraocular muscles may be involved. Ultrasonography is a very important and informative diagnostic method in patients with exophthalmos and Graves’ disease. The aim of our study was to evaluate medial and inferior extraocular muscle thickness in juvenile patients with Graves’ disease. Materials and methods: Ultrasonography was performed on 78 orbits o...

Graves’ (GD) hyperthyroidism induces accelerated bone turnover that leads to decreased bone mineral density (BMD). The role of the VDR gene in predisposition to primary osteoporosis has been recognized. Recent studies show associations between the VDR gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. Here we analyzed if VDR gene polymorphisms: BsmI, ApaI, TaqI, and FokI may predispo...

Graves' disease is a thyroid-specific autoimmune disorder in which the body makes antibodies to the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor leading to hyperthyroidism. Therapeutic options for the treatment of Graves' disease include medication, radioactive iodine ablation, and surgery. Radioactive iodine is absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy as exposure to I-131 to the fetal thyroid can resul...

The term Marine-Lenhart syndrome describes the association between Graves’ disease and autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTN), such as toxic adenoma or toxic multinodular goiter. The two diseases may coexist or may be present at different moments in the same patient. In the literature, there are many reports on the development of Graves’ disease after radioiodine treatment for AFTN, bu...