Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2020; 128(02): 119-124
DOI: 10.1055/a-0669-9333
Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Changes in Serum Immunoglobulin G4 Levels in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Graves’ Disease

Izumi Hiratsuka
1   Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Fujita Health University School of Medicine 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
,
Hiroya Yamada
2   Department of Hygiene, Fujita Health University School of Medicine 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
,
Mitsuyasu Itoh
1   Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Fujita Health University School of Medicine 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
,
Megumi Shibata
1   Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Fujita Health University School of Medicine 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
,
Takeshi Takayanagi
1   Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Fujita Health University School of Medicine 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
,
Masaki Makino
1   Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Fujita Health University School of Medicine 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
,
Yoshihisa Sugimura
1   Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Fujita Health University School of Medicine 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
,
Nobuki Hayakawa
3   Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics I, Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, 1-501 Shiogamaguchi, Tempaku-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
,
Shuji Hashimoto
2   Department of Hygiene, Fujita Health University School of Medicine 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
,
Atsushi Suzuki
1   Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Fujita Health University School of Medicine 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
› Author Affiliations
Funding: This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 17K18220.
Further Information

Publication History

received 06 June 2018
revised  28 July 2018

accepted 06 August 2018

Publication Date:
20 September 2018 (online)

Abstract

Objective Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated condition that can affect almost any organ. We investigated the association between IgG4-RD and the main characteristics of Graves’ disease (GD) at the time of diagnosis. Additionally, we evaluated whether serum IgG4 levels change during treatment.

Design and patients Twenty-eight patients with newly diagnosed GD were enrolled into this longitudinal follow-up study. Serum IgG4 levels and thyroid function were measured in all the participants at the time of diagnosis. Further, the serum IgG4 levels of nine of 28 patients with untreated GD were measured after the achievement of euthyroid state (through the use of methimazole).

Results Two (7.1%) of 28 patients with untreated GD had elevated serum IgG4 levels of >135 mg/dL. There was no significant difference in the average IgG4 levels before and after the achievement of euthyroid state (66.2±74.0 mg/dL vs. 50.5±47.3 mg/dL). In two patients, the elevated serum IgG4 levels returned to normal after treatment. However, one patient had an elevated serum IgG4 level of 136.6 mg/dL after treatment.

Conclusions This study showed that serum IgG4 levels varied with treatment in patients with GD, independent of thyroid function, suggesting that IgG4 might be indirectly related to GD.

 
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