A case of hypothyroidism with simultaneous presence of stimulating type anti-thyrotropin (TSH) receptor antibodies and anti-thyroxine (T4) autoantibodies

Abstract

We have examined a hypothyroid patient with stimulating type anti-thyrotropin (TSH) receptor antibodies and without blocking type anti-TSH receptor antibodies. Although she had high serum TSH (240 μU/ml) and low free triiodothyronine (FT3, 0.49 pg/ml) concentrations, which agree with physical findings of hypothyroidism, she had an unusually high free thyroxine (FT4) concentration (3.56 ng/dl). Incubation of her serum with 125I-T4, followed by precipitation with 12.5% polyethylene glycol (PEG) disclosed a higher binding of 125I-T4 (34.4%) than in normal controls, being 5-7%. In addition, binding of 125I-T4 to her serum gamma-globulin was completely displaced by the addition of unlabelled T4. From these results it was concluded that her serum contained anti-T4 autoantibodies. Treatment with synthetic T4 was begun and her thyroid function was monitored by sensitive TSH radioimmunoassay (RIA) and RIA of FT4 after PEG treatment. Since both sensitive TSH RIA and FT4 RIA results after PEG treatment give results concordant with the physical findings, it was concluded that both of the RIA results are useful for the evaluation of thyroid function in patients with thyroid hormone autoantibodies.