Smoking is a risk factor for Graves disease. However, Carlé et al. have demonstrated that individuals have a transient increased risk of developing overt autoimmune hypothyroidism in the first 2 years after quitting smoking. The mechanisms involved in these two opposing effects of smoking on the immune system are intriguing.
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Wiersinga, W. Quitting smoking—transient risk of autoimmune hypothyroidism. Nat Rev Endocrinol 8, 509–510 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2012.132
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2012.132
