[The role of Coxsackie viruses in the pathogenesis of diffuse toxic goiter].

Altogether 15 untreated patients aged 16 to 55 with diffuse toxic goiter had morphologically confirmed diagnosis of the presence of antibodies to Coxsackie virus (group B); titers of group A (1:128 and more) were revealed in 3 of them. It indicated recent (not more than 2 yrs.) Coxsackie virus infection. Such titers were absent in the control group (18 healthy persons). Difference in the study and control groups was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). The role of Coxsackie virus in the breakdown of natural tolerance to autologous thyroid tissue was discussed.