New Sensitive Test for Graves' Disease

A new microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) allows sensitive determination of autoantibodies against thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TRAb). The assay can be automated using any commercial microplate processing system.

Since the autoantibodies occur in 80-90% of patients with Graves' disease, their detection can be used to confirm a diagnosis of Graves' disease and to differentiate it from other thyroid gland diseases. Continued monitoring of TRAb levels can also aid prognosis and therapy management. The assay specifically detects TSH-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII), a subtype of TRAb with a high clinical sensitivity and specificity.

The assay is the product of Euroimmun GmbH (Luebeck, Germany). The company says this second-generation assay offers a number of advantages over traditional assays, including a nonradioactive format, calibration in international units, and the absence of interference from anti-TSH antibodies, which can also occur in Graves' disease patients. Autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thryoglobulin (TG) are markers for Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis as well as Graves' disease. The Euroimmun Anti-TPO and Anti-TG ELISA utilize recombinant antigens for sensitive detection of these autoantibodies.





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