| Objective To investigate the level of autoimmune markers and the mechanism of action in patients with hyperthyroidism (Graves disease) combined with osteoporosis. Methods Participants were Graves disease patients who were inpatients or outpatients of the Department of Endocrinology of our hospital from January 2015 to September 2017 or health individuals attending physical examination. 126 patients were divided into normal bone mass group (38 cases), low bone mass group (42 cases) and osteoporosis group (46 cases) according to bone mineral density results. At the same time, 40 healthy people undergoing physical examination in our hospital were selected as blank controls. The levels of immune function indicators in the four groups were compared. Results The levels of T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3, CD4, and CD8) in Graves disease patients with normal bone mass, osteopenia, and osteoporosis were all lower than those of controls. The levels of cytokines IL-6, TNF-α and IGF-I were higher than the control group, and the differences were statistically significant. The levels of IL-6, TNF-α and IGF-I were positively correlated with FT3 and FT4, and the correlation coefficients were statistically significant (P<0.05). However, there was a negative correlation between cytokine levels and TSH, and the correlation coefficient was also statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion In patients with Graves disease, bone mineral density (BMD) decreases, the immune function also changes, and the levels of cellular inflammatory factors gradually increase. At the same time, inflammatory cytokines have a positive correlation with thyroid function, participate in the body's immune response, lead to changes in thyroid function, which is not conducive to the treatment of Graves disease. |