Function of Regulatory T Cells Improved by Dexamethasone in Graves' Patients
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2012-11-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Antithyroid drugs is the first choice treatment of Graves' disease in China and Europe.
However,the relapse rate is very high (40-60%) after therapy withdrawal, and many patients
need further treatment. In our previous study, a new treatment strategy for GD has been
introduced. After methimazole (18 months) combined with intrathyroid injection of
dexamethasone (DEX) (3 months) treatment, the relapse rate of hyperthyroidism was markedly
reduced compared with methimazole treatment alone (7.4% versus 51%) during the 2-year
follow-up period. The results have been published in the 'J Clin Endocrinol Metab,
2009,94:4984-4991'. However, the mechanism by which the DEX reduces the relapse rate of GD is
not fully understood. In vitro study, we have proven that DEX could effectively improve the
function of regulatory T (Treg) cells and set up a new balance of T helper 1(Th1)/Th2 in GD
patients(this results have been in press in the Eur J Endocrinol). In order to elucidate
mechanism of this treatment strategy in vivo, we plan to recruit 20-30 patients with GD and
treat those patients by intrathyroid injection of DEX combined with methimazole, and the
function of Treg cells and balance of Th1/Th2 will be evaluated.