Immunoglobulin-E and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody in graves' disease with atopy

Background: Graves' disease is known to have a high recurrence rate with recent evidence linked pollen allergy as one of the factors that might induce relapse in Graves' disease. Therefore, it was argued that IgE might play a role in inducing relapse of Graves' Disease. This study aims to investigate the correlation between IgE and Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Receptor Antibody (TRAb) in Graves' disease respondents with a history of atopy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012. Blood samples were collected using a 5 mL sterile syringe, put on EDTA tubes, and analyzed for Routine Blood Count, IgE level, and TRAb level. Stool examination and skin prick test data were also collected from the respondents to determine the history of atopy. Results: A total of 131 respondents participated in this study, consisting of 28 males (20.6 %) and 103 females (79.4 %). In the group with a history of atopy, the average atopy duration was 26.5 years, and the most common types of atopy were allergic rhinitis (42.6 %), food allergy (32.3 %), asthma (16.1 %), and drug allergy (8.8 %). IgE level and TRAb level among respondents with a history of atopy were significantly higher than those without a history of atopy (407 vs. 23.9 for IgE; 9.2 vs. 1.4 for TRAb). We found a positive correlation between IgE level and TRAb level among respondents with a history of atopy (r=0.580; p<0.0001). Conclusion: This study found a significant correlation between IgE level and TRAb level among Graves' disease respondents with atopy history.