Diagnosing Graves’ Disease and Non-Graves Hyperthyroidism Using TSH Receptor Antibody Test versus Non-TSH Receptor Antibody Test Methods of Diagnosis

Abstract

Background: Differentiating Graves hyperthyroidism from the other causes of hyperthyroidism, using serum TRAb testing is essential step for diagnosis. Objectives: To study importance of TRAb in the diagnosis of Graves’ disease, distinguishing it from thyroiditis, and comparing it with clinical features and other tests such as TPOAb, US thyroid and thyroid scintiscan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 patients attending endocrine clinicErbil city. Patients were studied on clinical feature basis and investigated with serum TRAb, TPOAb, TSH, Free T4, and Ultrasound examination of thyroid gland. Fisher exact test and Chi Square test of independence, Correlation coefficient and t-test of independence were used. Results: Fifty-two patients were found to have Graves’ disease; There was significant correlation between TRAb positivity and diagnosis of Graves’ disease p 0.05. Conclusion: A positive correlation was found between TRAb titer and positivity and no significant relation between TPOAb levels between Graves’ disease patients compared with thyroiditis patients, respectively.