Role of thyroid antibodies in the diagnosis of thyroid eye disease

Background Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune disorder caused by autoantibodies targeting thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptors. Aim To correlate the clinical profile of TED with the level of circulating biomarkers [TSH receptor antibody and antithyroglobulin antibody (anti-TgAb)]. Patients and methods A prospective observational cross-sectional study carried out on 40 TED patients. The patients were subjected to full history taking, endocrinological evaluation, and full ophthalmological examination. All the participants underwent thyroid function tests (TSH, free T3, and free T4), autoantibody tests such as TSH receptor-stimulating antibody (TSAb) and anti-TgAb. Results A significant positive correlation was observed between TSH receptor antibodies and proptosis. TSAb were significantly higher among moderate to severe TED patients compared with those with mild disease. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between TSAb and severity of TED. Conclusion TSAb is indicative of TED with TSAb titers in serum positively correlating with activity and severity of TED. Anti-TgAb has a negative relationship with TED activity and severity.