Anti-insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Receptor (IGF-1R) Antibodies in Graves' Disease and Graves' Orbitopathy

Serum Antibodies Against the Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Receptor (IGF-1R) in Graves' Disease and Graves' Orbitopathy

The study is aimed at assessing IGF-1R-Abs in patients with Graves' disease, with or without GO, compared with healthy subjects and patients with autoimmune thyroiditis in a cross-sectional investigation.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. for Graves' disease: a history of hyperthyroidism, associated with previous or present detectable serum autoantibodies against the TSH-R;
2. for autoimmune thyroiditis: the presence of at least two of the following: a) primary hypothyroidism; b) detectable serum autoantibodies against thyroglobulin or thyroperoxidase ; c) a hypoechoic pattern of the thyroid by ultrasound examination.
3. for healthy subjects: absence of any clinical, biochemical or instrumental evidence of thyroid diseases.

For all subjects: Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1) lack of informed consent