CLINICAL UTILITY OF ASSAYS FOR TSH RECEPTOR ANTIBODIES

TSH receptor antibodies, which may be stimulatory or blocking, play an important role in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, respectively. In recent years, the ability to accurately and reproducibly measure TSH receptor antibodies in clinical circumst ances has improved, and their measurement may alter the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to such patients. The purpose of the present rev iew is to discuss the measurement techniques, utility, pitfalls, and l imitations of TSI-I receptor antibody assays. The measurement of TSH r eceptor antibody levels can be used to help predict the recurrence of Graves' disease, to help diagnose Graves' ophthalmopathy, and to deter mine the likelihood that neonatal Graves' disease will occur. TSH rece ptor blocking antibodies are useful in determining the clinical manife stations of hypothyroidism.