Thyroid Antibody Tests

The body normally produces antibodies to foreign substances such as bacteria; however, some people are found to have antibodies against their own thyroid tissue.

A condition known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is associated with a high level of these thyroid antibodies in the blood as well. Whether the antibodies cause the disease or whether the disease causes the antibodies is not known; however, the finding of a high level of thyroid antibodies is strong evidence of this disease. Occasionally, low levels of thyroid antibodies are found with other types of thyroid disease. When Hashimoto’s thyroiditis presents as a thyroid nodule rather than a diffuse goiter, the thyroid antibodies may not be present.

The immune system of the body normally protects us from foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses by destroying these invaders with substances called antibodies produced by blood cells known as lymphocytes. In many patients with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, lymphocytes make antibodies against their thyroid that either stimulate or damage the gland.

Two common thyroid antibodies that cause thyroid problems are directed against thyroid cell proteins: thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin. Measuring levels of thyroid antibodies may help diagnose the cause of the thyroid problems. For example, positive anti-thyroid peroxidase and/or anti-thyroglobulin antibodies in a patient with hypothyroidism make a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. If the thyroid antibodies are positive in a hyperthyroid patient, the most likely diagnosis is autoimmune thyroid disease.

Insist on having antibodies testing, and if you have been tested and show positive, find a doctor willing to treat you for high antibodies. Do not accept  a doctor’s opinion that high antibodies has nothing to do with your symptoms, because it does, especially when it comes to Thyroid Eye Disease! The Thyroid antibodies are generally the last to improve, when treating Grave’s Disease. And that’s why Thyroid Eye Disease is the last symptoms to get improvement!

 Thyroid Antibody Tests

If a pregnant woman has a known autoimmune thyroid disease (such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease) or has another autoimmune disorder and thyroid involvement is suspected, then one or more of the thyroid antibodies may be ordered early in the pregnancy and then again near the end.

 These tests are used to help the doctor determine whether the baby may be at risk of thyroid dysfunction since thyroid antibodies can cross the placenta and cause hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism in the fetus or newborn.

Thyroid antibody testing may also be ordered when a patient with another autoimmune disorder has symptoms of thyroid dysfunction and/or when she has reproductive difficulties that the doctor suspects may be associated with auto antibodies.

Mild to moderately elevated levels of thyroid antibodies may be found in a variety of thyroid and autoimmune disorders, such as thyroid cancer, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, pernicious anemia, and autoimmune collagen vascular diseases. Significantly increased concentrations most frequently indicate thyroid autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease.

In general, their presence suggests that there is autoimmune thyroid involvement and the higher the level, the more likely that is. Rising levels may be more significant than stable levels as they indicate an increase in autoimmune activity. All of these antibodies, if present in the mother, can increase the risk of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in the fetus or newborn.

If TgAb (Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody- ordered when the patient has symptoms of  hyperthyroidism to monitor effectiveness of anti-thyroid therapy) is  being used as a monitoring tool and has stayed high or dropped low initially but is increasing over time, then it is likely that the treatment has not been effective and the condition is continuing or recurring.

If levels are falling and/or have fallen to low or undetectable levels, then it is more likely that the therapy is effective.

In other words, if you have high levels of antibodies most likely your endocrinologist is not very successful in his methods of treatment and he will need to change the course of treatment (chose another method, or change the dosage).

 A certain percentage of patients who are healthy may be positive for one or more thyroid antibodies.

Their prevalence tends to be higher in women and tends to increase with age. If a person with no apparent thyroid dysfunction has a thyroid antibody, her doctor will track her health over time. While most may never experience thyroid dysfunction, a few may develop it in the future.

How to improve Thyroid Antibodies is completely different question. When it is widely believed that there is nothing you can do about your Thyroid antibodies, and you should just wait, there are a few things that can be done. Check Immune System and Thyroid Antibodies here:—–>>>

Thyroid Test Results : TSH, FT3  and FT4  for Graves’ Disease and Hyperthyroidism

by Svetla Bankova

If you just left the doctor’s office with a piece of paper in your hand, given by your doctor with the following words “Your tests are abnormal– you may have Graves’ Disease or Hyperthyroidism– you probably have a lot of questions in your head. No more explanations. Doctors don’t have time to explain what are normal, what are abnormal thyroid test levels (TSH, FT3, FT4)- just because they have scheduled about 15 to 20 patients per day and they can not afford any extra time for you and your health problems.

It’s the Health Care system fault, not the doctors!

Next patient in line please..

I personally can understand your frustration, you helplessness and your despair. Because I have been there and I felt exactly the same way. I started to look for more information everywhere to find out what is a “normal thyroid levels” and how do I achieve this “normal thyroid test results”- because I wanted to feel better, healthy and without Graves’ disease or Hyperthyroidism.

I’ll try to present in a few sentences what you should be looking for, when you have been diagnosed with Graves’ Disease or Hyperthyroidism.

Perhaps one of the most confusing issues for patients today is the issue of the changing “normal” reference range for the TSH – thyroid stimulating hormone – test, which is used by most conventional practitioners to detect and monitor thyroid problems.

Thyroid Test results and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH FT3 FT4) testing is used to:

• diagnose a thyroid disorder in a person with symptoms,
• screen newborns for an under-active thyroid, or over active thyroid respectively
  
• monitor thyroid replacement therapy in people with hypothyroidism
• diagnose and monitor female infertility problems,
• help evaluate the function of the pituitary gland (occasionally), and
• screen adults for hyperthyroid/hypothyroid disorders as recommended by some organizations, such as the American Thyroid Association.

In late 2002, the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) issued new guidelines for the diagnosis and monitoring of hyperthyroid disease. In the guidelines, the NACB reported that the current TSH reference range, which usually runs from approximately 0.5 to 5.5 — may be too wide and actually may include people with thyroid disease. When more sensitive screening was done, which excluded people with thyroid disease, 95 percent of the population tested actually had a TSH level between 0.4 and 2.5. Accordingly, the new TSH ranges were adjusted.

The thyroid test results, read as normal levels should be as follows; however different laboratories have different ways of measuring. Consult your doctor for a better understanding of your thyroid tests. Blood tests to measure TSH, T4 and T3are readily available and widely used. The best way to initially test thyroid function is to measure the TSH level in a blood sample. 

Again, check with your laboratory, since their measuring units may differ from the above. 

I believe that once your symptoms are under control and your test are in normal range your eyes will start to improve. So besides treating the symptoms I would recommend treating the cause of Graves’ Disease as well.

Understanding your Thyroid Test Results:

A high TSH level indicates that the thyroid gland is failing because of a problem that is directly affecting the thyroid (primary hypothyroidism). The opposite situation, in which the TSH level is low, usually indicates that the person has an overactive thyroid that is producing too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism). Occasionally, a low TSH may result from an abnormality in the pituitary gland, which prevents it from making enough TSH to stimulate the thyroid (secondary hypothyroidism). In most healthy individuals, a normal TSH value means that the thyroid is functioning normally.

 T4 Tests

Individuals who have hyperthyroidism will have an elevated FT4, whereas patients with hypothyroidism will have a low level of FT4. Combining the TSH test with the FT4 accurately determines how the thyroid gland is functioning.

The finding of an elevated TSH and low FT4 indicates primary hypothyroidism due to disease in the thyroid gland. A low TSH and low FT4 indicate hypothyroidism due to a problem involving the pituitary gland. A low TSH with an elevated FT4 is found in individuals who have hyperthyroidism.

T3 tests are often useful to diagnosis hyperthyroidism or to determine the severity of the hyperthyroidism. Patients who are hyperthyroid will have an elevated T3 level. In some individuals with a low TSH, only the T3 is elevated and the FT4 is normal. T3 testing rarely is helpful in the hypothyroid patient, since it is the last test to become abnormal. Patients can be severely hypothyroid with a high TSH and low FT4 but have a normal T3. 

If you want more information about your Thyroid Antibodies, check here:

Thyroid Antibodies