Abstract
Summary
We have investigated the possibility that immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases. For this purpose, the radioallergosorbent technique was used to search for IgE autoantibodies to various thyroidal antigens and to aggregated IgG in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, and their immediate relatives. Thyroidal antigens used were thyroglobulin, thyroid extract and thyroid homogenate. No definite evidence, however, was found for the presence of circulating IgE autoantibodies to these antigens.
Plasma IgE concentration in the same subjects was measured with a cellulose disc radioimmunoassay method. The IgE levels of a group of Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients were found to be significantly lower than those of a control group.
These studies provide little support for hypotheses of IgE participation in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases. The immunopathologic significance, if any, of the lowering of total IgE levels in patients with Hashimoto's disease is presently unknown.
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