OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immunoglobulin G subclasses of anti-TPO and antibody avidity in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (sH), overt hypothyroidism (H) and a control group (C). METHODS: According to the TSH, fT4 and anti-TPO antibody levels, appraised by immunometric assays, 95 female patients were divided into three groups (sH, H and C). IgG subclass levels and avidity were measured by a homemade ELISA. Results were analyzed by nonparametric tests and Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS: The predominant IgG subclasses detected in both case groups were IgG1 and IgG4 with a significantly higher level of IgG4 in the sH group. Consequently, the IgG1/IgG4 ratio was significantly lower in sH patients. CONCLUSION: The higher levels of IgG4 anti-TPO reduced significantly the IgG1/IgG4 ratio in sH patients. These results permit to envisage that increasing this ratio could be useful as a positive predictive factor for the development of overt disease in such patients. Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immunoglobulin G subclasses of anti-TPO and antibody avidity in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (sH), overt hypothyroidism (H) and a control group (C). METHODS: According to the TSH, fT4 and anti-TPO antibody levels, appraised by immunometric assays, 95 female patients were divided into three groups (sH, H and C). IgG subclass levels and avidity were measured by a homemade ELISA. Results were analyzed by nonparametric tests and Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS: The predominant IgG subclasses detected in both case groups were IgG1 and IgG4 with a significantly higher level of IgG4 in the sH group. Consequently, the IgG1/IgG4 ratio was significantly lower in sH patients. CONCLUSION: The higher levels of IgG4 anti-TPO reduced significantly the IgG1/IgG4 ratio in sH patients. These results permit to envisage that increasing this ratio could be useful as a positive predictive factor for the development of overt disease in such patients. Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel
Authors: Dolores B Njoku; Jenelle L Mellerson; Monica V Talor; Douglas R Kerr; Nauder R Faraday; Ingrid Outschoorn; Noel R Rose Journal: Clin Vaccine Immunol Date: 2006-02