[Relative number of B-lymphocytes in endocrine opthalmopathy in patients with diffuse toxic goiter]

The number of B-lymphocytes was counted in 69 patients with diffuse toxic goiter (DTG) using a new method. The relative number of B-lymphocytes was investigated before therapy, one year and 2 years after it. The patients were divided into 2 groups (48 patients with endocrine ophthalmopathy and 39 patients without it). The investigation has shown that in the patients without endocrine ophthalmopathy the relative number of B-lymphocytes did not differ from control values, whereas in the patients with endocrine ophthalmopathy their number was elevated. These differences suggested an idea of the involvement of B-lymphocytes in the process of endocrine ophthalmopathy, that was confirmed by positive correlation (r = 0.38, p less than 0.001) between the relative number of B-lymphocytes before therapy and a degree of endocrine ophthalmopathy in one year. Thus, the relative number of B-lymphocytes before therapy can serve a marker of an outcome of endocrine ophthalmopathy.