Effect of irradiation on thyroid-autoantibody production.

McGregor A M, McLachlan S M, Smith B R, Hall R

Lancet. 1979 Sep 1;2(8140):442-4. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)91494-6.

Irradiated lymphocytes have been found to stimulate thyroid-autoantibody synthesis by lymphocyte cultures. It is proposed that a similar effect is involved in the increased autoimmune response which follows radioiodine treatment for Graves' disease.