J Korean Soc Endocrinol.  1997 Dec;12(4):528-532.

Anticardiolipin Antibody in Graves' Disease

• Song YK
• Kim KS
• Lee JH

Abstract

BACKGROUND
S: Antiphospholipid antibodies which are frquently found in systemic lupus erythematosus and primary antiphospholipid syndrome are associated with recurrent abortions and thromboembolism. In this study the authors investigated whether antiphospholipid antibodies are found in Graves disease, a representative organ-specific autoimmune disease and what is the clinical implication of the antiphospholipid antibodies if they appear in Graves disease. METHODS: Anticardiolipin antibody and lupus anticoagulant activity were measured in 57 untreated hyperthyroid Graves patients. 42 euthyroid patients with thyroid nodules served as controls.
RESULTS
Eight of the 57 patients with Graves disease had anticardiolipin antibody which was significantly more frequent than in control group. Six of the eight patients who had anticardiolipin antibody had IgM type antibody and two had IgG type antibody. All their antibody activity declined with several months of antithyroid drug therapy and finally disappeared when the patients became euthyroid. Presence of anticardiolipin antibody had no relationship with clinical events such as spontaneous abrtion and thromboembolism.
CONCLUSION
Anticardiolipin antibody is frequently found in patients with Graves disease. They seem to appear as an epiphenomenon of autoimmunity and they seem not to have any clinical implications.

MeSH Terms

Abortion, Habitual
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin*
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmunity
Drug Therapy
Female
Graves Disease*
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
Pregnancy
Thromboembolism
Thyroid Nodule
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor