Thyroid Diseases

Autoimmunity to thyroid antigens is by far the most common cause of thyroid disease. These include Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and Grave’s disease (GD). HT is primarily a T-cell mediated disease and GD is mediated by anti-TSH receptor autoantibodies. HT causes hypothyroidism and GD causes hyperthyroidism. GD accounts for 60-80% of all cases of hyperthyroidism.
                The most common autoantibodies found in autoimmune thyroiditis are targeted to thyroid peroxidase (TPO), thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR). Anti-TSHR and anti-TPO Autoantibodies are found in GD generally with anti-TPO, anti-Tg Autoantibodies present in HT. TPO and Tg may not play as pivotal a role as antibodies to TSHR, in the pathogenesis of these diseases. 


References:
Huftless et al, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 96(9):E1466-71
Weetman AP, Autoimmunity 2004 37(4):337-340
Akkaraju S, Canaan K and Goodnow CC, J Exp Med. 1997 186(12):2005-2012
Vanderpump et al, Clin Endocrinol. 1995 43(1):55-68
Sinclair D, Ann.Clin Biochem. 2006 43:173-183