[Characteristics of the clinical picture, hormonal status and humoral immunity in older patients with diffuse toxic goiter].

Radioimmunoassays, immunological and radioreceptor methods were used for a study of the levels of T3, T4, TSH, thyroglobulin, antibodies to thyroglobulin and microsomal antigen, immunoglobulins suppressing thyrotropin binding in 92 patients with diffuse toxic goiter aged over 50. There was discrepancy between the prevalence of severe types of disease in this group of patients and an insignificant rise of T3 and T4 levels. Changes in the immune status pointed to an increase in immunodeficiency which became progressive with aging of the organism, and increasing sensitivity to damaging agents.