Characterizing Thyrotropin Receptor Antibodies and Hormonal Dynamics in Graves' Disease: A Comparative Analysis of Treated and Untreated Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Graves’ disease (GD) constitutes a significant proportion, ranging from 60% to 80%, of diagnosed cases of hyperthyroidism, emerging as a prevalent autoimmune disorder primarily affecting women aged between 30 and 50 years. Notably, GD stands as the foremost etiology of hyperthyroidism within populations endowed with adequate iodine levels. Materials and Methods: This investigation endeavors to quantify Thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb) in cohorts comprising both untreated individuals and those undergoing pharmacotherapy with anti-thyroid agents, while concurrently evaluating hormonal indices encompassing Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Free Thyroxine (FT4), and Free Triiodothyronine (FT3) levels. The study adopts a case-control design encompassing a sample size of 70 participants, inclusive of 40 subjects subjected to anti-thyroid medication and 30 untreated counterparts. Measurement of TRAb levels was facilitated through the utilization of commercially available Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA, whereas assessment of T4, T3, and TSH levels was executed via immunoenzymatic assays. Results: Antecedent to the commencement of carbimazole (CMZ) therapy, individuals afflicted with GD demonstrated substantially elevated concentrations of FT4, FT3, and TRAB, juxtaposed with diminished TSH levels relative to both treated individuals and healthy controls, achieving statistical significance at p<0.001. Furthermore, a predominance of female participants was observed across all study groups, constituting proportions ranging from 70% to 83.3%. Among the various age strata under scrutiny, the cohort aged over 44 years exhibited the highest mean percentage, with negligible disparity discernible between the second (25-34 years) 11 third (35-44 years) age brackets. Conclusion:The findings of this inquiry underscore distinctive hormonal profiles discernible among GD patients, typified by heightened FT4, FT3, and TRAB levels, concomitant with attenuated TSH concentrations. Moreover, the study elucidates the prevalent manifestation of GD among females and its concomitant association with advancing age cohorts.