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. 1980 Oct;42(1):33–40.

Increase of peripheral B lymphocytes in Graves' disease.

H Mori, N Amino, Y Iwatani, O Kabutomori, S Asari, S Motoi, K Miyai, Y Kumahara
PMCID: PMC1537063  PMID: 6970099

Abstract

Peripheral T and B lymphocytes were examined in autoimmune thyroid diseases. The percentages of T and B lymphocytes were calculated from the proportions of E and EAC rosette-forming cells and peroxidase-positive cells determined by micromethods. In thyrotoxic Graves' disease, the percentage of T cells was significantly lower, and the percentage of B cells was higher than in normal controls. The absolute count of B lymphocytes was also markedly increased. The serum levels of thyroid hormones showed a significant correlation with the percentage of B cells and an inverse correlation with that of T cells in untreated cases of Graves' disease. Similar abnormalities of lymphocyte subpopulations were observed in patients with thyrotoxic Graves' disease under drug therapy, but the proportions and absolute counts of T and B lymphocytes were normal in euthyroid patients with Graves' disease, either under drug therapy or in remission. No abnormalities in T and B cells were found in Hashimoto's disease. The data indicate that the main feature of the abnormality of the lymphocyte subpopulations in thyrotoxic Graves' disease is an increase of B lymphocytes. The reasons for the discrepancy between our results and those of earlier reports and for the B cell abnormality in Graves' disease are discussed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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