[Thyroid antibodies in autoimmune diseases of the thyroid and their dependence on the presence of autoantigens].

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (especially diffuse toxic goiter) are characterized by a higher frequency of the detection and concentration of serum thyroglobulin. The frequency of the detection of antibodies to thyroglobulin in Hashimoto's thyroiditis was higher and their concentration lower than in diffuse toxic goiter. The frequency of the detection of antibodies to microsomal thyroid antigen in autoimmune thyroid diseases was lower than that of antibodies to thyroglobulin and did not depend on a type of disease. In diffuse toxic goiter the level of antibodies to thyroglobulin showed positive correlation with the level of antibodies to microsomal antigen and negative correlation with serum thyroglobulin concentration. In Hashimoto's thyroiditis the level of antibodies to thyroglobulin correlated with the level of serum thyrotropin. One-six years after thyroid extirpation serum thyroglobulin was practically absent in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and the frequency of the detection of thyroid autoantibodies (especially antimicrosomal ones) was sharply decreased.