Detection of thyroid stimulating antibodies in sera of patients with Graves’ disease — Clinical and experimental studies

Summary

Using a new radioreceptor assay with¹²⁵I-staphylococcal protein A as tracing ligand, the authors have determined thyroid stimulating antibody (TSAb) levels in sera of 165 patients with Graves’ disease (GD). The TSAb index (TSAbI) was positive in 91 % (n = 67) of untreated cases, 32 % (n = 28) of cases treated with antithyroid drugs, 28 % (n = 39) of cases in clinical remission, and 90 % (n = 3l) of relapsing cases. TSAbI was found to be negative in all normal controls and negative controls. It was suggested that TSAb existed in sera of most patients with GD, and the variations of TSAb level were correlated with the clinical course of GD. The detection of TSAb may be a useful parameter in monitoring clinical treatment of GD and predicting its relapse.