[Introduction to the etiology and pathogenesis of autoimmune forms of thyroid diseases]

Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis are representing typical endocrine disorders caused by dysfunction of the immune system. In this context the occurrence of thyroid cell-specific autoantibodies is regarded as a characteristic indicator of autoimmunity. HLA-linked, disturbed lymphocytic interactions are discussed as the etiologic factors of these diseases because of their inability to discrime between "self" and "not-self". Hypothetically the underlying mechanism is an error in the immunosuppressive reaction, either by a quantitative or functional diminution of so-called suppressor cells or by a lacking of antigen-specific antiidiotypic antibodies.