Diagnostic value of thyroid antibodies.

Abstract

ABSTRACT In a series of 701 patients, tanned red-cell agglutinating and complement-fixing antibodies were found most commonly in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, primary myxedema and Graves' disease, whereas positive precipitin reactions were seen exclusively in Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Twenty-four per cent of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis had high titers of both tanned red-cell and complement-fixing antibodies, and a combination of very high titers was unique for Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The highest averaged titers were seen in patients who had both Hashimoto's disease and hypothyroidism. In primary myxedema, a higher incidence of antibodies was noted in the untreated group. The average titer of antibodies was higher in untreated than in treated Graves' disease, especially in those who had been hyperthyroid for over 1 yr. In Graves' disease, higher titers were associated with large goiters and with the higher levels of protein-bound iodine, but not with the presence of exophthalmos or with ...