Thyroid antibodies

What does the Presence of Thyroid Antibodies Mean?

The purpose of testing for thyroid antibodies is to confirm an autoimmune thyroid condition distinct and apart from other manifestations of thyroiditis. For instance, someone may develop a goiter – a visible swelling at the base of the neck – and the cause of this goiter needs to be confirmed.

When the Doctor Orders Thyroid Antibodies Tests

In cases where a patient is a known sufferer of other autoimmune conditions like rheumathoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus or pernicious anemia, develops thyroid problem symptoms, several thyroid antibodies tests may be performed.

If a woman has been previously diagnosed with any thyroid-related disease like Graves’ Disease, and she becomes pregnant, her treating doctors would as matter of routine have thyroid antibodies tests done in the first and last trimesters. This is to see what risk of congenital thyroid disease if any, is presented to the unborn fetus. The mother’s condition can be passed on to the baby via the placenta.

Another case where thyroid antibodies tests may be indicated is if a patient who is already an autoimmune disease sufferer displays signs of elevated thyroid or reduced thyroid levels, or if she has difficulty getting pregnant and thyroid auto-antibodies are suspected.

Elevated Thyroid Levels

People who have thyroid cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune collagen vascular diseases may produce elevated thyroid antibodies. Typically, persons who have Hasimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease show a significant increase in thyroid levels.

The presence of antibodies implies that thyroid imbalance is involved at some level. Precipitated and longer lasting elevated thyroid levels are a sign of autoimmunity.

The presence of thyroglobulin can skew thyroid antibodies test results

Now, it is possible that persons who are deemed to be “healthy” may test positive for a few thyroid antibodies. This phenomenon manifests more in women than in men, particularly as women age. If a healthy patient shows signs that thyroid levels are on a persistent course of increase, or shows evidence of reduced thyroid levels at several examinations, her treating professional should monitor her condition over time, to ensure that full blown thyroid disease does not develop.

The efficiency and effectiveness of testing for thyroid antibodies had gotten better over time, but has not reached its peak. The tests have not been stable for quite a number of years, and this instability accounts for the different types and names of thyroid tests out there. Not even the “normal range” parameters established for the tests are the same, not even close. The methodology of each test is different. Patients may even see testing for reduced thyroid antibodies and elevated thyroid levels as unreliable. Therefore, to keep your test results in perspective, it is recommended that when testing, stick to one laboratory and one method, as any diversion can distort the real picture.

external links
wikipedia: thyroid antibodies