[Identification of thyroglobulin-binding cells in the blood of Hashimoto patients (author's transl)]

We developed a new method for demonstration and enumeration of antigen-binding cells, the principle and application of this method is demonstrated using peripheral blood lymphoid cells from Hashimoto patients, non-Hashimoto, non Graves' disease goiter patients and in patients without thyroid disease. A significantly higher number of thyroglobulin-binding cells was observed in the peripheral blood of Hashimoto patients as compared to members of the two other groups. The results of the FICA-tests were compared to conventional serological data of the individual patients.