The clinical value of serum thyrotrophin receptor antibody level in patients with Graves ophthalmopathy

Objective To explore the value of serum thyrotrophin receptor antibody(TRAb) on the pathological mechanism of Graves ophthalmopathy.

Methods Two hundred and nineteen newly diagnosed Graves disease patients who were divided into Graves ophthalmopathy group(n=121) and without Graves ophthalmolpathy group(n=98) were tested serum concentration with thyroid function, thyroperoxidase antibodies(TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibodies(TgAb)and TRAb. According to the consensus statement of the European Group on Graves ophthalmopathy, clinical activity score(CAS)and severity evaluation were carried out on Graves ophthalmopathy patients.

Results There was no significant difference in serum concentration of free thyroxine(FT₄), free triiodothyronine(FT₃), TPOAb and TRAb between the Graves ophthalmopathy group and the without Graves ophthalmopathy group. Serum concentration of TRAb was not correlated with the severity and CAS of Graves ophthalmopathy.

Conclusions The CAS and the severity of Graves ophthalmopathy were irrelevant to the serum concentration of TRAb. Therefore, the correlation between TRAb and Graves ophthalmopathy still needs further study.