[Immunomorphological transformation of the thyroid gland in autoimmune thyroiditis]

In parallel immunochemical, immunohistochemical, and histopathological studies of blood sera and biopsies of the thyroid gland tissue the autoimmune nature of thyroiditis was proved in 11 female patients. The detected antithyroid autoantibody was classified as complement-dependent immunoglobulin. Immunocytochemical data are presented confirming the histiocytic derivation of macrophages and non-epithelial nature of B- and C-cells. Transformation of colloid and cells ans metabollsm of monoclonal immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) permit the judgement on the duration of autoimmune thyroiditis. The diffuse lymphoid variant is typical of the first 5 years, and focal fibrinolymphoid variant-for later peroids of autoimmune thyroiditis.