ABSTRACT
In order to measure TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) we tried to set up a radioreceptor assay using human thyroid membranes. Due to lack of appropriate binding activity of the material obtained, we decided to use a kit which provides solubilized porcine membrane-receptors to TSH instead of human membranes, as well as calibrators that have been standarized in a receptor assay against MRC LATS std B. With these reactives we have measured TRAb in sera from 7 normal controls (C), 54 thyrotoxic patients (43 diffuse goiters [BDH], 8 multinodular goiters [BDH] and 3 subacute Thyroiditis [TSA], 3 patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (TH) and 6 non-hyperthyroid Graves ophtalmopathy patients. Measurement were initially performed using calibrators and the results expressed as U/L; since a very good correlation between the expression U/L and the calculated inhibition Index (I.I.) was found (r=0.99, n=15, p<0,001), results are shown using latter. In C mean ñ SD value for I.I. was 3.4 ñ 2.37 percent so we decided to use, as cut off criteria for differentiating between normal and abnormal results, the figure 11 percent which represents the mean ñ 3 SD. According to this, 93 percent of BDH has elevated TRAb activity while only slightly more than one third of MBH had elevated values, this difference being highly significant (p<0,0001); both TSA and TH patients showed low TRAb activity while all Graves ophtalmopathy pts had elevated values, thus suggesting that they had a latent disease. We concluded that the methodology that is adequate and practical for clinical purposes. Our results show that measurement of TRAb activity is very useful in stablishing the etiology of hyperthyroidism in an individual patient. Also it provides help inthe differential diagnosis of patients with exoftalmus od unknown etiology. Its usefulness remains to be proved in the follow-up of BDH pts after been treated with antithyroid drugs
Subject(s)
Graves Disease/immunology , Hyperthyroidism/immunology , Receptors, Thyrotropin/antagonists & inhibitors , Case-Control Studies , Antigen-Antibody Reactions/immunology , Thyroid Function Tests/methodsABSTRACT
Se analizan 110 pacientes con cáncer diferenciado del tiroides luego de ser tratados y en los cuales se realiza un seguimiento con tirogloobulinemia en forma periódica durante los últimos 10 años. En un grupo de ellos se realiza estudio comparativo con la cintigrafía de cuerpo entero. Al analizar la evaluación se concluye que la Tg es un excelente marcador tumoral con una sensibilidad de 92,8 por ciento y una especificidad de 88,5 por ciento , constituyéndose en el mejor método para el seguimiento y control de este tipo de pacientes, con la ventaja de la cintigrafía que no necesita la suspensión de la terapia sustitutiva y que es capaz de detectar lesiones no funcionantes desde el punto de vista isotópico