Antibodies to TSH receptors

TSH is a hormone of the anterior pituitary gland (a gland in the brain) which regulates the amount of T3, T4 hormones produced by the thyroid gland. (See “TTH”.)

Receptors are areas of the cell wall which are required to interact with biologically active substances (hormones) in a “key-lock” type of way.

Antibodies are components of the immune system which destroy any molecules foreign to the body. It is still not exactly known what causes immune system failure when antibodies to one's own organs begin to be produced.

If receptors to TSH are affected, this hormone cannot interact with the thyroid gland and control its work, which begins to secrete large or insufficient amounts of T3, T4 (see “T3”, “T4”). There appears a clinical picture of hyper-, hypothyroidism.

The analysis is clinically important in Graves' disease (antibodies are detected in 75-96% of cases), both to diagnose and to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

Antibodies to TSH receptors are especially dangerous for pregnant women because they enter the fetus through the placenta and damage the baby's thyroid gland.