Antithyroid antibodies??

[Narg]

I just had a blood test result back with antithyroid antibodies of 60. I've been told that 50-75 is borderline. So I have to go back in 3 months for another blood test. Does anyone know what 60 actually mean? My sister has been diagnosed with hashymoto disease. Should I be concerned? Could this be due to some viral infection??

[Sofia89]

Don't worry.. my antibodies are 688 so yours are nothing major to worry about! Going gluten free can slow antibodies from increasing..and selenium supplements. It means yours are high but it's still within range so I wouldn't worry.

[Narg in reply to Sofia89]

Oh thank you so much for your reply. My GP said it could be because of some viral infection. But I've read that hashymoto has nothing to do with viral infection. Hence the repeat blood test! Oh this is all so confusing.

[greygoose in reply to Narg]

Doctors are so ignorant! No, it has nothing to do with a viral infection. Plus, you cannot say that someone is 'borderline' Hashi's, because antibodies fluctuate all the time. So, unless you test it every day, you have no way of knowing what they are at their highest level, and what they are at their lowest level. That's why we have a cut-off point : if they are over the cut-off point it's positive, if they're under, it's negative. There is no borderline.

[Narg in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for that. So what is the cut off point?

[greygoose in reply to Narg]

Well, you should know that, it depends on the lab where your blood was analysed. There is not a universal cut off point. Did you get a print-out of your results? Or did your doctor just tell you what they were, and add his own dramatic embellishment to the ranges?

[Narg in reply to greygoose]

Got the result by phone. He said actually 50 is the cut off point but that I gave to do another blood test in 3 months to c if it's increasing. Not sure at what point I would be refereed to a specialist.

[greygoose in reply to Narg]

OK, so if your antibodies are 60, then you have Hashi's. No argument. No borderline. It's just that doctors hate diagnosing it, because they don't know what to do about it.

Hashi's aren't usually referred to endos, because the treatment is just the same as for non-Hashi's hypo. It's just thyroid hormone replacement. Levo, usually.

[Narg in reply to greygoose]

That really explains it clearly. Thank you.

I suppose I'll wait to c what the second blood test will b. If it's gone up then should get treatment of some sort.

[greygoose in reply to Narg]

They won't treat you according to your antibodies, your TSH would have to be over-range.

[Narg in reply to greygoose]

Actually looking at the print out, all my TBs are normal. TSH is 3.4. Not sure what means really.

[greygoose in reply to Narg]

Sorry, what's a TB?

'Normal' doesn't mean anything. What are the numbers and ranges?

A TSH of 3.4 is hypo - people without thyroid problems have a TSH of around one. But, doctors will not treat until it's over-range, usually.