Soluble CD27 in thyroid disorders.

We measured the soluble cytokine CD27 in a variety of thyroid disorders. Soluble CD27 was increased in untreated Graves' hyperthyroidism and in euthyroid ophthalmopathy. Levels of sCD27 were normal after the establishment of euthyroidism with propylthiouracil (PTU) or radio iodine in primary hypothyroidism, chronic thyroiditis, and the hyperthyroid and euthyroid phases of subacute thyroiditis. Soluble CD27 is a marker for cellular activation as in Graves' hyperthyroidism, but it is not predictive of the outcome of PTU therapy.