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Br J Ophthalmol 2005;89:724-729 doi:10.1136/bjo.2004.050807
  • Clinical science
    • Extended reports

Quantification of cells expressing the thyrotropin receptor in extraocular muscles in thyroid associated orbitopathy

  1. A Boschi1,
  2. Ch Daumerie2,
  3. M Spiritus1,
  4. C Beguin3,
  5. M Senou4,
  6. D Yuksel1,
  7. M Duplicy1,
  8. S Costagliola5,
  9. M Ludgate6,
  10. M C Many4
  1. 1Department of Ophthalmology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
  2. 2Department of Endocrinology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
  3. 3Department of Bio-Statistics, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
  4. 4Department of Experimental Morphology and General Biotogy, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
  5. 5Institut de Recherches Interdisciplinaires, Université Libre de Brussels, Belgium
  6. 6Department of Medicine, UWCM, Cardiff, UK
  1. Correspondence to: A Boschi Department of Ophthalmology, UCL, Avenue Hippocrate, 10, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium; boschiofta.ucl.ac.be
  • Accepted 1 November 2004

Abstract

Background/aim: Thyroid associated orbitopathy (TAO) and Graves’ disease (GD) have an autoimmune pathogenesis, possibly related to the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR). The aim of this study was to determine whether TSHR immunoreactivity is correlated with disease severity or serum TSHR antibody (TRAB) levels.

Methods: Orbital tissues from 30 patients with TAO were compared with those of 20 patients with strabismus and four with non-thyroid orbital inflammation. TSHR was detected by immunohistochemistry and TRAB were measured by radioreceptor assay.

Results: No TSHR immunoreactivity was detected in the 24 control orbital tissues, whereas in all TAO biopsies elongated fibroblast-like cells, expressing TSHR, were present. These cells were located between the muscle cells, which were separated by oedema in the acute phase but fibrous tissue in the chronic phase of disease. Semi-thin sections showed numerous mast cells present in the chronic phase and in close contact with adipocytes. The number of TSHR immunostained cells was high in early disease, decreased with disease duration, and was positively correlated with TRAB levels at the onset of TAO.

Conclusion: TSHR immunoreactivity was demonstrated specifically in TAO orbits which highlights the importance of TRAB early in the pathogenesis.

Footnotes

    Responses to this article

    • Expression of TSH-R in normal human EOM
      • Steven J Kloprogge,
      • Albert G. Frauman
      Br J Ophthalmol published online September 14, 2009

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