RESUMEN
Objective:To investigate the association of thyrotropin receptor antibodies(TRAb) with the sensitivity to glucocorticoid therapy in Graves′s ophthalmopathy(GO) patients.Methods:Total 37 subjects with active GO were treated with prednisone. According to the relieve degree and clinical activity of their eye symptoms post-steroid treatment, patients were grouped into sensitive group(S) and non-sensitive group(NS). TRAb positive rate and antibody titer of the two groups were compared.Results:In S group( n=28 ), the positive rate and titre of TRAb were 76.53% and (12.54?5.62) U/L, respectively; The positive rate and titre of TRAb post-treatment were 22.18% and (7.82?4.91) U/L, respectively, were significant lower than data prior treatment. In NS group( n=9 ), the positive rate and titre of TRAb prior treatment were 67.24% and (11.07?4.63) U/L, respectively; The positive rate and titre of TRAb post-treatment were 59.74% and (10.81?5.96) U/L, there was no significant difference with data prior treatment. Prior treatment, there was no significant difference of TRAb titres between the two groups. Post-treatment, TRAb titres in NS group were significant higher than in S group.Conclusion:The variations of TRAb level were closely correlated with the sensitivity to glucocorticoid therapy in GO patients. Serum TRAb level can be used as a major index to evaluate therapeutic sensitivity to glucocorticoid therapy in GO.