PREVALENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF PANCREATIC-ISLET CELL AND ADRENAL ANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH GRAVES-DISEASE

The prevalence of adrenocortical (ACAb), islet cell (ICAb) and thyroid microsomal (TMAb) autoantibodies was determined by indirect immunoflu orescence, in 88 consecutive patients with Graves' disease, ACAb, ICAb and TMAb positivity was seen in 3 (3.3%), 10 (11%1 and 66 (75%) patie nts respectively. Among these one patient had both ACAb and ICAb posit ivity. Diabetes mellitus was found to be present in two (2.3%; both IC Ab positive) of the 88 patients studied. Two of the four ICAb positive patients had loss of first phase insulin response to intravenous gluc ose. A significant proportion of patients of Graves' disease had assoc iated islet cell and/or adrenal autoimmunity. A high index of suspicio n for associated endocrine autoimmunity should be maintained while dea ling with subjects of Graves' disease.