Circulating monocyte migration inhibitory factor in serum of Graves' ophthalmopathy patients: a parameter for disease activity?

A factor which inhibits the random migration of monocytes in vitro was found in the serum of nearly half of Graves' ophthalmopathy patients. This factor was found in serum of only 4% of the healthy controls. When the Graves' ophthalmopathy patients were subdivided, on clinical criteria (pain, redness, swelling and impaired function), into patients with active disease and patients with inactive disease, the serum factor was found in 61% of the patients with active inflammatory disease and only in 14% of the patients with inactive disease. Furthermore this factor was also found in the serum of patients with an acute episode of uveitis, suggesting that it may be a useful marker for assessment of a localized inflammatory process.