The Birmingham pituitary database: auditing the outcome of the treatment of acromegaly |
| |
| Authors: | D Jenkins I O'Brien A Johnson R Shakespear M C Sheppard P M Stewart |
| |
| Institution: | The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan;The Department of Clinical Biology and Hormonal Regulation, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan |
| |
| Abstract: | OBJECTIVE Graves' disease is recognized as an organ-specific autoimmune disorder caused by the presence of TSH receptor antibodies. The long-term effects of 131I treatment for Graves' disease on TSH receptor antibodies have not previously been studied. We have measured the TSH-binding Inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) Index and thyroid stimulating antibody (TSAb) activity in patients with Graves' disease following treatment with 131I. DESIGN A retrospective study. PATIENTS Two hundred and twenty-five patients with Graves' disease who were treated with 131I 1–13 years earlier were studied (1 year: 27 patients; 2–5 years: 42 patients; 6–9 years: 79 patients; 10–13 years: 77 patients). MEASUREMENTS The TBII index was measured as the percentage 125I-TSH bound to pig thyroid membranes and TSAb activity as the amount of cAMP produced by cultured FRTL-5 cells. RESULTS TBII was detected in 78% of patients prior to 131I administration. Following 131I administration, the Incidence of positive TBII was 85% at the end of the first year decreasing to 40,19 and 17% at 2–5,6–9 and 10–13 years, respectively. The frequency of a positive TSAb was 74% at the end of the first year, and also decreased to 49, 27 and 29% at 2–5, 6–9 and 10–13 years, respectively. At more than 2 years after 131I therapy, the frequencies of hyperthyroidism In TBII and TSAb positive patients were 42% (19/45) and 30% (19/63), respectively, which were significantly higher than those In TBII and TSAb negative patients (8%: 12/153 and 8%:11/131, respectively). The frequency of hyperthyroidism after 131I treatment in patients with negative TBII before treatment (7%: 2/29) was significantly lower than that (29%: 30/102) In patients with positive TBII before treatment. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that (1) the TBII Index and TSAb activity decreased over a period of more than 2 years after 131I therapy for Graves' disease, and (2) the TBII index before treatment may influence the long-term outcome of 131I therapy. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
