Thyrotrophin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulins and HLA-DRW3-two prognostic factors in Graves' disease

Thyrotrophin-binding inhibitory immuno-globulin (TBII) activity and HLA typing were performed in 38 Chinese patients with Graves' disease to find out the relationship among TBII activity, HLA antigen and relapse. Twelve out of 13 patients who were TBII-positive at anti-thyroid drug withdrawal relapsed. All seven patients with HLA-DR3 antigen relapsed, whereas all ten patients in remission did not have DR3. Therefore, both TBII activity at drug withdrawal and DR3 antigen could predict subsequent relapse. However, a larger patient sample is required to determine the precise relationship between TBII activity and HLA-DR3 antigen.