Understanding the immunology of Graves' ophthalmopathy - Is it an autoimmune disease?

The notion that Craves' ophthalmopathy is an autoimmune disease has been ba sed primarily on the clinical associations between it and Graves' hyperthyr oidism, and on the frequently beneficial response of the disease to immunos uppressive therapy. Recent advances in molecular biology have led to new in sights into the pathogenesis that support an autoimmune basis for this cond ition. In particular, there is now compelling-although not definitive-evide nce that, if verified, would represent disease transfer by thyroid-secretin g hormone receptor-sensitized T cells. Future studies using animal models a nd in vitro systems will allow definitive identification of the immune cell types, autoantigens, and autoantibodies involved in the pathogenesis of Gr aves' ophthalmopathy.