THE CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COMPLEMENT-FIXATION TEST IN THYROTOXICOSIS

Abstract

SUMMARY The significance of a positive thyroid complement-fixation (c.f.) test in thyrotoxicosis has been investigated by studying the correlation between various features of the disease in 468 patients. A significant correlation was found between the positivity of the c.f. test and (1) the degree of lymphocytic infiltration in the gland; (2) incidence of postoperative hypothyroidism; (3) size of the goitre; (4) previous treatment with radioiodine, and (5) a family history of thyroid disease. No correlation was found between the results of the test and the incidence of reactions to antithyroid drugs. The results suggest that thyrotoxic patients with positive c.f. tests should be treated initially with antithyroid drugs unless there is a definite indication for surgery.