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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2013; 121(01): 1-5
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1297992
Article
© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Relationship between Thyrotropin Receptor Antibody Levels and Intrathyroid Vascularity in Patients with Graves’ Disease

S.-R. Shih
1   Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University
2   Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
3   National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
,
J.-S. Chang
2   Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
,
L.-C. Lin
2   Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
3   National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
,
Y.-C. Chang
5   Center of Anti-Aging and Health Consultation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
,
H.-Y. Li
2   Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
3   National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
,
C.-Y. Lee
1   Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University
,
C.-M. Chen
1   Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University
4   Academia Sinica, Taiwan
,
T.-C. Chang
2   Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
3   National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
4   Academia Sinica, Taiwan
5   Center of Anti-Aging and Health Consultation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 05 June 2011
first decision 28 October 2011

accepted 28 November 2011

Publication Date:
20 December 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Objective:

Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies (TSHRAbs) are specific autoantibodies of Graves’ disease (GD). They activate adenylate cyclase, induce thyroid growth, and cause an increased rate of thyroid hormone production and secretion. TSHRAbs levels are decreased by treatment and may predict recurrence when they persist. Theoretically, TSHRAbs levels should be related to intrathyroid vascularity (ITV) due to the autoimmunity and inflammation. We aimed to analyze the relationship between TSHRAbs represented by thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) levels and ITV measured by thyroid duplex sonography (TDS).

Patients:

56 GD patients were prospectively recruited.

Measurements:

ITV, measured using TDS, was defined as follows: (average color-flow area in the right and left sides of the thyroid/total thyroid area in transverse view)×100.

Results:

The average TBII level was 47.1% and average ITV was 27.24. ITV positively and significantly correlated with TBII (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

TSHRAbs show significant correlation with ITV. This may help doctors to estimate thyroid autoimmune activity when they performing sonography at clinics.

Key words

Graves’ disease - thyrotropin receptor antibody - doppler sonography - infrared thermal imaging
 

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