Morphological Diversity of Pretibial Myxedema and Its Mechanism of Evolving Process and Outcome: A Retrospective Study of 216 Cases

Figure 16

Trends of serum TRAb levels with the extension of courses at active stage in 6 PTM variants of 185 cases. (a) In nodule variant, means of serum TRAb titers at active stage invariably decreased from 189.4 IU/L at 0.67–3 months to 6.2 IU/L at 61–120 months in the course. (b) In plaque variant, means of serum TRAb titers at active stage went up-and-down with the extension of course. The lowest titers were 37.5 IU/L at 4–6 months and 44 IU/L at 25–60 months respectively and the highest titers were 180 IU/L at 0.67–3 months, 135.3 IU/L at 13–24 months and 134 IU/L at 61–120 months respectively. There was no decreasing trend of autoimmune activity with the extension of course. (c) In diffuse swelling variant, means of serum TRAb titers at active stage went upward from 165 IU/L at 0.67–3 months to 352 IU/L at 121–192 months with the extension of course. The trend of autoimmune activity fluctuated up with the extension of course. (d) In tumor variant, means of serum TRAb titers at active stage fluctuated with the extension of course. There was no difference of serum TRAb titers among 4 periods (, ). (e) In mixture variant, means of serum TRAb titers at active stage fluctuated downward from 181.2 IU/L at 0.67–3 months to 65 IU/L at 121–192 months. (f) In elephantiasis variant, means of serum TRAb titers at active stage dramatically fluctuated with the extension of course (, ). The lowest points were at 4–6 months, 25–60 months, and 121–192 months and the highest points were at 7–12 months and 61–120 months.

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