[Biological criteria of isolated Graves' ophthalmopathy]

The diagnostic value of biological tests, especially the thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) assay, was studied in 29 patients with endocrine Graves' ophthalmopathy without hyperthyroidism. In 21 patients the presence of biological abnormalities (L-T3 suppression test, TRH test, presence of antithyroid antibodies) indicated that the ophthalmopathy was related to Graves' disease. The remaining 8 patients were free of any biological abnormality. The contribution of the TSI assay to the pathophysiological diagnosis of ophthalmopathy is poor. These immunoglobulins were detected in 12 out of 29 cases, but they were associated with the above-mentioned abnormalities in all but 3 of these 12 cases.