HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR5 associated thyrotoxicosis--two different types of toxic diffuse goiter

One hundred fifty patients with toxic and scintigraphically diffuse goiter were HLA typed (A, B, C, DR). One group consisted of 101 patients with concomitant Graves' ophthalmopathy and/or TSH-binding inhibiting antibodies (TBIAb). Forty nine patients had neither ophthalmopathy nor TBIAb. The former group showed a higher prevalence of HLA-B8 and DR3 compared to a normal control group. The latter group showed a higher frequency of HLA-DR5, whereas the HLA-B8 and DR3 antigens were slightly below normal prevalence. These data indicate an immunogenetic heterogeneity in patients with toxic diffuse goiter. A group of 47 hyperthyroid patients with single autonomous thyroid adenoma had no increased prevalence of any HLA-antigens. Patients with long term remission did not show an altered prevalence of any of the HLA antigens compared to controls. In contrast, patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy and/or TBIAb activity who relapsed had a significantly higher prevalence of HLA-B8 DR3, whereas patients without TBIAb and eye signs who relapsed had a significantly higher prevalence of HLA-DR5 than the control group.