[Changes in the immune status in primary hypothyroidism]

A majority of patients with primary hypothyroidism demonstrated shifts in the immune status manifested in a decrease in the number and function of T-lymphocytes, an increase in the sensitization of lymphoid cells to thyroglobulin, the level of B-lymphocytes, serum immunoglobulins, the titer of antihyroglobulin antibodies and circulating immune complexes. The frequency and expression of immune disorders were in direct relation to the severity of disease. The most noticeable changes were detected in spontaneous-hypothyroidism. A differentiated use of immunoreactive drugs (glucocorticoids, splenin) in patients with spontaneous hypothyroidism taking into account the severity of disease and immunological indices, enhanced the effectiveness of replacement therapy, reduced the time of achieving replacement therapy, reduced the time of achieving clinical remission and contributed to the normalization of biochemical and immunological indices.