Seasonal allergic rhinitis may lead to recurrence
of hyperthyroidism in women with Graves’ disease
(March 2004)
The background of the study.
Patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis induced by Japanese cedar
pollen and patients with hyperthyroidism caused by Graves’
disease have high serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E concentrations (IgE
is a type of antibody). This study was designed to determine the
effect of seasonal allergic rhinitis on the course and serum concentrations
of antithyroid antibodies in patients with hyperthyroidism caused
by Graves’ disease. In Japan, cedar pollens are disseminated
in February and March.
How the study was done.
Ten women who had had Graves’ hyperthyroidism were studied;
six were in remission and four were taking a low dose of methimazole.
Five had a history of seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by Japanese
cedar pollen. The women were studied at 2- to 4-month intervals
for 18 months starting in August.
The results of the study.
At base line, all five women with allergic rhinitis, but not the
other five women, had high serum concentrations of IgE antibodies
that reacted with cedar pollen. All of the women with a history
of rhinitis, but none without this history, had an episode of allergic
rhinitis the following March. This episode was followed by increases
in serum concentrations of cedar-pollen-specific IgE and, later,
thyroid-stimulating, antithyroid peroxidase, and antithyroglobulin
antibodies. Three of the five women in this group had recurrent
hyperthyroidism after the episode of allergic rhinitis. None of
the women who did not have allergic rhinitis had a rise in serum
thyroid antibodies or recurrent hyperthyroidism during the study
period.
The conclusions of the study.
Seasonal allergic rhinitis induced by cedar pollen may be followed
by a rise in serum concentrations of thyroid antibodies and recurrent
hyperthyroidism in women with Graves’ disease.
The original article.
Takeoka K, Hidaka Y, Hanada H, Nomura T, Tanaka S, Takano T, Amino
N. Increase in serum levels of autoantibodies after attack of seasonal
allergic rhinitis in patients with Graves’ disease. Int Arch
Allergy Immunol 2003;132:268-76.
|
