Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies assays and its clinical significance in Graves′ disease

Abstract

Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibodies (TRAb) are considered to be characteristic antibodies of Graves′ disease. As the development of immunology examination technology, TRAb assays underwent three generations. Many studies confirmed that TRAb was helpful to determine the cause of thyrotoxicosis, evaluate the function of thyroid and formulate diagnosis and treatment regimen. It is also significant in the evalation of Graves′ disease related diseases, such as Graves′ ophthalmopathy, pretibial myxoedema and liver damage of the diseases. Monitoring of TRAb would control the development or recurrence. Testing the TRAb of pregnant women with the history of Graves′ disease is meaningful for safety of pregnancy. Rewiewing TRAb assays and clinical significance in Graves′ disease is useful to clinicist in making clinical decision and improving the curative effect. Key words: Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies; Graves′ disease; Graves′ ophthalmopathy