[Immunological characteristics of patients with diffuse toxic goiter]

Altogether 24 patients with diffuse toxic goiter were examined after surgical intervention and thiamazole therapy. In addition to clinical methods the levels of T- and B-lymphocytes, immunoregulatory cells (T-helpers and T-suppressors) and immunoglobulins of different classes were determined before and after therapy. A method of spontaneous and complementary rosette formation and monoclonal antibodies (Ortho) were used for the determination of the content of T- and B-lymphocytes. Immunoglobulins were determined by a method of radial immunodiffusion in gel. It was shown that in patients with diffuse toxic goiter the level of T-lymphocytes was significantly on a decrease, the levels of B-lymphocytes and IgG were on an increase before therapy. There was sharp disturbance in the ratio of immunoregulatory cells--T-helpers and T-suppressors. After therapy the clinical picture and immunological indices in 14 patients returned to normal, in the rest of 10 patients the Ig level and ratio of immunoregulatory cells remained disturbed.