1999 Volume 1999 Issue Supplement101 Pages 56-61
Thyroid antibodies have typically been measured by the passive agglutination method (PA method) until now but this method it is semiquantitative and development of a more objective method has been awaited. Recently, a method measuring thyroid antibodies by radioimmunoassay (RIA) was developed and this method has increased sensitivity in the measurement of antibodies. Moreover, in cases, of abnormal sensations in the throat (AST) this method facilitates, screening for thyroid disease.
In the present study, thyroid antibodies were measured by the RIA method in patients who complained of AST and the results were compared with those obtained by the PA method. The subjects were 26 patients (7 males and 19 females) with AST as the major complaint. There were 4 patients (16%) who were judged negative by the PA method but determined to be positive by t he RIA method. One patient among these was treated with levothyroxine sodium, and was suspected to be euthyroid due to the presence of Hashimoto's disease. The AST in this patient was improved by this treatment. Thus, it seems possible that latent Hashimoto's disease may be the cause of AST in patients having this symptom. Measurement of anti-thyroid antibodies by the RIA method was considered to be useful in the detection of these patients.
