Long-term immunological study in Graves' disease treated with thyroid arterial embolization.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Immunology
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by immunological dysfunction.
• Existing treatments for GD may have limitations, necessitating exploration of alternative therapies.
• Thyroid arterial embolization is a minimally invasive procedure with potential therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate long-term immunological changes following thyroid arterial embolization in Graves' disease.
• To assess the impact of this procedure on the body's overall immune functions.
• To compare immunological profiles before and after treatment, and in recurrent cases.

Main Methods:

• Forty-one GD patients underwent thyroid arterial embolization.
• Immunological markers, including thyroid autoantibodies (TSAb, TRAb, TGAb, TMAb) and lymphocyte subsets (CD16+CD56+, CD19+, CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+), were measured pre-embolization and at multiple follow-up points (1-36 months).
• Analysis focused on dynamic changes in autoimmune status and immune function.

Main Results:

• Thyroid arterial embolization significantly reduced TRAb levels and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio towards normal by 6 months.
• The CD3+CD8+ ratio normalized approximately one year post-embolization.
• Recurrent GD cases showed persistent high TSAb and TRAb levels, with no significant improvement in CD3+CD8+ or CD4+/CD8+ ratios.

Conclusions:

• Graves' disease is associated with immunological functional disorders.
• Thyroid arterial embolization effectively restores basic immunological functions to normal ranges in non-recurrent cases.
• The procedure's efficacy in adjusting immune function is limited in patients experiencing recurrence.