Graves병 환아 혈청내 갑상선 자가항체의 임상적 의의 = A Clinical Significance of Anti-thyroid Autoantibodies in the Serum of Children with Graves' Disease

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The prevalence of antithyroid autoantibodies and the relationship between the presence of autoantibodies and response to antithyroid medication were studied in 20 children with Graves' disease who were seen at the Department of Pediatrics, Chungnam National University Hospital from March 1985 to February 1990.
The circulating AMA, ATA and TRAb were detected in 80%, 45% and 90% respectively. The TRAb was measured by TBII, and the mean value was 41.1±20.9%.
The results of thyroid function test at 3 and 6 months after antithyroid medication showed higher euthyroid conversion rate among the patient group without AMA or ATA than the patient group with AMA and ATA. The mean TSH level after 6 months' antithyroid medication was suppressed significantly more in the patient group with AMA and ATA than in the patient group without AMA or ATA.
These result showed that the prevalence of autoantibodies in childhood Graves' disease was almost similar to that of adults, and the treatment response of initial 6 months' period was better in patients without AMA or ATA. The relapse rate could not be elucidated due to short-term follow-up period.