SERUM IMMUNOGLOBULIN-E AND SOLUBLE CD23 IN PATIENTS WITH GRAVES-DISEASE

It is not clear whether the IgE system plays a role in the pathogenesi s of Graves' disease which is an autoimmune disorder. The low-affinity receptor of IgE, which is known as CD23, is not simply a receptor, it has various functions related to immune cells. There is no informatio n about its levels in Graves' disease. For these reasons, serum IgE an d soluble CD23 levels were determined in 40 patients with thyroid dise ase, free from allergic disorders and/or parasitic infestations. Patie nts were divided into three groups: Group 1: Patients with Graves' dis ease (n = 15, age: 33.4 +/- 9.3, 9 women/6 men). Group 2: Patients wit h non-toxic diffuse or multinodular goitre (n = 15, age: 31.0 +/- 12.7 , 13 women/2 men). Group 3: Patients with toxic nodular goitre (n = 10 , age: 44.6 +/- 14.2, 9 women/1 men). There was no age or sex differen ce between the groups (p > 0.05), Serum IgE level was somewhat higher in group 1 as compared with the other two groups, but the difference w as not statistically significant, the values showed great individual v ariations (Group 1: 99.60 +/- 105.10, Group 2: 47.89 +/- 53.42, Group 3: 46.48 +/- 35.90 IU/ml, p>0.05). Serum sCD23 was detectable in 7 of 15 patients in group 1 (46.7%), 1 of 15 patients in group 2 (6.7%) and 1 of 10 patients in group 3 (10.0%). Serum sCD23 detectability ratio was found higher in patients with Graves' disease than in the other tw o groups (p < 0.02). Serum IgE levels were compared in sCD23 detectabl e and undetectable Craves' patients. The values were similar (sCD23 de tectable group: 105.30 +/- 35.90, sCD23 undetectable group: 94.70 +/- 55.30 IU/ml, p > 0.05). These results suggest that increased detectabi lity of sCD23 is associated with Graves' thyrotoxicosis. An underlying state of autoimmune thyroid disease may be a permissive factor for th is phenomenon.