Int J Thyroidol.  2016 May;9(1):15-18. 10.11106/ijt.2016.9.1.15.

Clinical Implication of TSH Receptor Antibody Measurement

• Shin DY

• KMID: 2164911
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11106/ijt.2016.9.1.15

Abstract

Autoantibodies directed against the thyrotropin receptor have been well known to be an important pathogenesis of Graves' disease. However, the diagnosis and management of Graves' disease are still mainly dependent on thyroid function itself and clinical manifestation of thyrotoxic patients. That is mainly due to the low sensitivity of early generation of thyrotropin receptor assay methods. The development of sensitive thyrotropin receptor measuring tools through third generation immunometric assay made the diagnosis of Graves' disease with mild hyperthyroidism accurate and convenient for patients. Bioassay to detect thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin is also commercially available nowadays, which theoretically discriminate thyroid stimulating antibodies from thyrotropin receptor-blocking antibodies. Although the use of these serologic markers plays an informative role in accurately diagnosing Graves' disease and predicting the prognosis of disease, consideration of the heterogeneous nature of autoimmunity of Graves' disease and the limitation of indirect antibody assay is also required for proper management of Graves' disease patients. In this review, the clinical usefulness of thyrotropin receptor antibody in various clinical situations of Graves' disease was overviewed.

Keyword

Graves' disease; TSH receptor antibody; Thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin; Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Autoantibodies
Autoimmunity
Biological Assay
Diagnosis
Graves Disease
Humans
Hyperthyroidism
Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating
Prognosis
Receptors, Thyrotropin*
Thyroid Gland
Thyrotropin
Antibodies
Autoantibodies
Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating
Receptors, Thyrotropin
Thyrotropin

Reference

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