Thyroglobulin Antibodies in Multiple Thyroid Diseases

AUTOIMMUNIZATION to autogenously released thyroglobulin has recently been implicated as a causative factor in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and spontaneous myxedema. Circulating thyroglobulin antibodies have been demonstrated in the serum of patients with these diseases and serves as a basis for this hypothesis.^{1 2 3 4 5} Animal studies further support this thesis, for homologous thyroglobulin injection produces antibodies and lymphocytic destruction of thyroid tissue.^{3 , 6 7 8} Diseases other than thyroiditis and spontaneous myxedema seemed likely to offer opportunity for extrathyroidal circulation of thyroglobulin, and hence antibody formation. Accordingly we studied subjects with and without thyroid disease, determining the prevalence of circulating thyroglobulin antibodies in each group. The . . .