Method of Identifying Risk for Thyroid Disorder

Abstract

A method for identifying a patient that is at risk for developing a thyroid disorder that occurs subsequent to treatment with a regimen that depletes lymphocytes, comprising determining whether antibodies directed against thyroid peroxidase or thyroid microsomes are present in the patient, wherein if the antibodies are present in the patient then the patient is at increased risk for developing a thyroid disorder. A particular embodiment is a method for identifying a patient with multiple sclerosis that is at risk for developing a thyroid disorder that occurs subsequent to treatment with a regimen that depletes CD52-positive cells, comprising determining whether antibodies directed against thyroid peroxidase or thyroid microsomes are present in the patient, wherein if the antibodies are present in the patient then the patient is at risk for developing the thyroid disorder.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 901,732, filed on Feb. 16, 2007. The entire teachings of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A major function of the thyroid gland is to secrete the thyroid hormones L-thyroxine (T4) and L-triiodothyronine (T3). These thyroid hormones regulate important aspects of metabolism. A state of hypothyroidism exists when the blood levels of T3 and T4 are abnormally low, and hyperthyroidism exists when their levels are abnormally elevated. Untreated, severe hypothyroidism is characterized by weight gain, low energy and depression, intolerance of cold, and changes in skin and hair. Untreated, severe hyperthyroidism presents as a state called thyrotoxicosis, characterized by weight loss, nervousness or emotional instability, intolerance of heat, tremor, and a rapid heart rate, and can cause cardiac atrial fibrillation. In some cases hypothyr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]The invention relates to a method for predicting the risk for thyroid glandular disorders that may occur in a patient as a complication of therapeutic regimens that deplete lymphocytes (a lymphocyte depleting regimen). The method is based on detecting the presence or absence of autoantibodies in the patient prior to receiving a first or subsequent course of the lymphocyte depleting regimen (e.g., prior assessment of autoantibodies in the blood). For example, blood testing prior to alemtuzumab treatment allows for the prediction of risk for thyroid disorders that can occur following alemtuzumab treatment.

Problems solved by technology

Patients who test positive for the predictive autoantibodies are at relatively increased risk for developing a thyroid disorder should they receive treatment with such regimen.

Patients who test positive for the predictive autoantibodies are at relatively increased risk for developing a thyroid disorder should they receive treatment with the regimen that depletes CD52-positive cells.