Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins do not cause non-autonomous, autonomous, or toxic multinodular goitres

Abstract

Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs) were measured by radioreceptor assay in serum from 51 patients with a multinodular goitre, divided into four groups according to thyroid function, and in 30 normal people. In 9 patients who were euthyroid and had non-autonomous thyroid function and in 6 patients who were hyperthyroid, TSI index was normal . Of 21 euthyroid patients with autonomous function only 2 had a slightly abnormal TSI index (66 in both, normal greater than or equal to 68). Another series of 15 clinically euthyroid patients also had a normal TSI index. These results suggest that TSIs do not contribute to the pathogenesis of multinodular goitre, as has been suggested by others.