The relationship between anti-human eye muscle antibodies and thyroid function, anti-TSH receptor antibodies and eye symptoms in Graves' ophthalmopathy

Wien Klin Wochenschr. 1992;104(24):744-7.

Abstract

Circulating IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to human eye muscle cytosol antigens were studied in 60 patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy using the indirect ELISA method. There was a significant difference in the levels of both IgG and IgA antibodies between the patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy and a control group (p < 0.001). IgA antibodies to eye muscle cytosol antigens were raised in 20 out of 29 patients with proptosis (class 3 ophthalmopathy), in comparison with 31 patients out of the total group of 60 with Graves' ophthalmopathy (p < 0.02). Anti-TSH receptor antibodies (TRAK) were not present in over half of the 31 patients with raised IgA antibodies to eye muscle antigens. However, a significant difference was found between the levels of IgG and IgA antibodies in the TRAK-negative patients (p < 0.05). These findings suggests that both IgG and IgA antibodies to eye muscle antigens might be important in the development of ophthalmopathy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies / analysis*
  • Cytosol / immunology
  • Female
  • Graves Disease / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / analysis
  • Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oculomotor Muscles / immunology
  • Receptors, Thyrotropin / immunology*
  • Thyroid Function Tests
  • Thyroid Gland / immunology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating
  • Receptors, Thyrotropin