Antibodies are thought to be specific: each one is created to attack a specific tissue/set of proteins, like a key to a specific lock. Antibodies for chicken pox do not prevent or moderate the measles, for example. Nor do they prevent the flu. And we have to get a different flu shot every year, because last year’s vaccine will not necessarily have any effect on this year’s flu strain. When someone gets a kidney transplant, and develops antibodies which are attacking the new kidney, those same antibodies do not attack the person’s other organs. So, until proven otherwise, we can expect Graves’ antibodies to act exactly the same way other antibodies do.
Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator
