The effect of pre-operative potassium iodide therapy on antibody production.

Previous studies have suggested that iodide may increase the incidence of thyroid disease and anti-thyroid antibodies in predisposed individuals. This study has considered the effects of pre-operative potassium iodide (60 mg twice daily, for 10 days) on the immune system of patients with Graves' disease. The treatment regimen used maintained all patients in a clinically and biochemically euthyroid state prior to surgery. Potassium iodide significantly increased serum thyrotropin receptor antibody levels and B cell activity as determined by increased immunoglobulin production from mitogen stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes. These effects were not observed in the two control groups of Graves' disease patients. Our in vivo findings would support previous in vitro work showing that potassium iodide does act on the immune system and this may be the mechanism by which iodide induces thyroid dysfunction in predisposed individuals.