Effects of plasmapheresis and immunocorrecting therapy on T-immunity of pa¬tients with autoimmune thyroiditis

T-cellular immunity was studied in 104 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis to assess the function of the thyroid and treatment method. A reliable reduction of the activity of T-lymphocyte receptor system, lymphopoiesis activation, and their relationship with the thyroid status were revealed. Plasmapheresis as monotherapy was used in 22 patients. It brought about a short-term positive effect, this necessitating search for other methods of' immunorehabilitation. In 82 patients it was supplemented with immunocorrecting therapy (thymalin) and in 49 with hypothyrosis with substitution therapy (L-thyroxine, thyroidin). Combined therapy helped attain a stable clinical and immunological effect. Subpopulation composition of T-lymphocytes recovered, their functional activity normalized (follow-up period 1 year).