help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM JCEM Call for Nominations for EIC
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Grubeck-Loebenstein, B.
Right arrow Articles by Waldhausl, W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Grubeck-Loebenstein, B.
Right arrow Articles by Waldhausl, W.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 60, 150-155, Copyright © 1985 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Immunological features of nonimmunogenic hyperthyroidism

B Grubeck-Loebenstein, K Derfler, H Kassal, W Knapp, K Krisch, K Liszka, PP Smyth and W Waldhausl

Blood lymphocyte subpopulations (Leu 4+ cells = pan-T cells, Leu 3a+ cells = helper/inducer cells, and Leu 2a+ cells = suppressor/cytotoxic cells), thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins, microsomal antibodies and antibodies against thyroglobulin were determined in 10 patients with hyperthyroidism due to single autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (ATN), 11 patients with hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease (GD) and in 20 normal subjects. Thyroidectomy was performed in 8 of the patients with ATN and in 6 of those with GD after 3 weeks of antithyroid drug treatment with methimazole. Lymphocytic infiltration of thyroid tissue, the amount of the various lymphocyte subsets (Leu 4+, Leu 3a+, and Leu 2a+ T cells as well as B+ B cells) in the thyroid gland, as well as the expression of the histocompatibility antigen HLA-DR on thyrocytes and intrathyroidal lymphocytes were examined. Blood Leu 4+ cells were reduced due to a lack of Leu 2a+ cells in patients with ATN and GD when compared to normal subjects. Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins were detected in all patients with ATN and GD, but in none of the normal subjects. Lymphocytic infiltration of thyroid tissue was present in patients with ATN and GD. The various lymphocyte subsets in the thyroid gland did not differ between the two patient groups. DR expression on thyrocytes was seen in 6 of the patients operated for ATN and in 5 of those who underwent surgery for GD. Infiltration with DR+-T lymphocytes was found in all thyroid glands investigated. Thus immunological findings usually classified as proof for the autoimmune origin of GD exist also in patients with ATN. An overlap in the pathogenetic background of both diseases seems possible.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Arch SurgHome page
A. Rios, J. M. Rodriguez, M. R. Moya, P. J. Galindo, M. Canteras, M. R. Alvarez, and P. Parrilla
Associations of HLA-C Alleles With Multinodular Goiters: Study in a Population From Southeastern Spain.
Arch Surg, February 1, 2006; 141(2): 123 - 128.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1985 by The Endocrine Society