Diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune thyroid diseases

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) are a group of diseases with significant different clinical manifestation,but with similar genetic and immunologic background.Thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) has significance in the diagnosis and prediction of prognosis for Graves' disease (GD) and Graves'ophthalmopathy (GO).Anti-thyroperoxidase antibody (TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody are hallmark of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT).The therapies for GD are mainly to control the hyperthyroidism.Immunosuppressive therapy is used for sever GO.Up to date,evidence-based medical evidence has demonstrated that treatment using selenium could decrease the level of TPOAb in the patients with AIT.The immune therapies to the pathogenesis of AITD still need to be developed and supported by clinical evidence. Key words: Autoimmune (thyroid) diseases ;  Graves' disease; Graves' ophthalmopathy; Autoimmune thyroiditis