[Chronic lymphocytic autoimmune thyroiditis: a commonly occurring thyroid disease]

Within the time of 6 months in 10 patients the final diagnosis of chronic thyroiditis was established by evidence of antibodies against thyroglobulin and microsomal antigen. In 4 patients a manifest hypothyroidism was observed. Since no screening test on humoral antibodies has been performed by only an increased ESR and/or clinical signs of a primary hypothyroidism led to analysis of antibodies it can be concluded that the autoimmune thyroiditis is one of the most frequent thyroid diseases.