Thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies as a predictor of thyrosuppressive drug therapy outcome in Graves' disease patients

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Graves' disease is autoimmune hyperthyroidism caused by pathological stimulation of thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies. The decision on changing the therapy can be made on time by determining the prognostic factors of thyrosuppressive drug therapy outcome. The aim of the study was to determine the significance of thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies level on the prediction of therapy outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was prospective and involved 106 drug-treated patients with newly diagnosed Graves' disease. Thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies level was measured at the beginning of therapy, during therapy and 12 months after it had been introduced. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference in the level of thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies was found at the beginning of disease and 12 months after the introduction of thyrosuppressive drug therapy among the patients who had been in remission and those who had not. Regardless of the outcome, thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies level significantly decreased in all patients 12 months after the therapy had been introduced. CONCLUSION: The level of thyroid-stimulation hormone-receptor antibodies at the beginning of disease and 12 months after the introduction of therapy cannot predict the outcome of thyrosuppressive drug therapy.