Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins in ophthalmic Graves' disease.

Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) have been detected by receptor assay in the sera of 43% of patients with ophthalmic Graves' disease. Comparison of the receptor assay studies with thyroid function tests indicated that in several patients the antibodies detected by receptor assay were biologically inactive. In other patients, thyroid function appeared to be under TSI control with hyperthyroidism prevented by autoimmune destruction of the thyroid.