The presence of Thyroid Antibodies but still in range?

[RUBYT1976]

I have recently been diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, my mother has auto immunes diseases and my brother has Graves disease so thought I would get my 11-year-old son checked out. His TSH, Free T4, Free T3 were all in range. However, he does have the presence of antibodies although less than 35 (still waiting for the other antibodies test to come through). I believe that this means he is ok for the time being but also that not everyone has thyroid antibodies. Does this suggest that I should get him tested regularly to see if the antibodies go up? Basically, there is very little information if antibodies are present but within range.

[shaws Administrator]

One of the emminent thyroid specialists states that if antibodies are present they should be prescribed.

If you email Dionne at TUK and ask for a print-out of Dr Toft's online article highlight the part that states 'if antibodies' are present we should be prescribed. Dionne's email (wont be in the office till Monday).

[e-mail]

[RUBYT1976 in reply to shaws]

Thank you, I will email her.

[greygoose]

I think everybody has some TPO antibodies. It's if they are over-range, or close to the top of the range that you are likely to have Hashi's. BUT antibodies fluctuate, so you cannot rule out Hashi's on the basis of one negative blood test. What was the top of the range, by the way? It can vary a lot from lab to lab.

[RUBYT1976 in reply to greygoose]

The top of the range was 35UI/ml, he was 23UI/ml. His other results were fine but trying to gauge how often I should test to see if this changes. I read somewhere that only something like 27% of the population would test positive for antibodies (I guess at any level).

[greygoose in reply to RUBYT1976]

I cannot imagine where they got that number! Hashi's is one of the commonest causes of hypothyroidism. So, I think it might be higher than 27%. Anyway, statistics are misleading at least, and you don't really care about the rest of the population, the important thing is your son and his thyroid health.

23 out of 35 is quite high, and merits close scrutiny. How often you retest him might depend on how often your GP is willing to do it. And, often they're not willing at all! If you're doing private tests, as often as you can afford. Say, every three months? If that's too much, then as often as you can. But, I should leave at least three months, if I were you.

[RUBYT1976 in reply to greygoose]

I read it somewhere today, it something like 27% of the general population have thyroid antibodies, but then 90% of those with Thyroid problems have antibodies -if that makes sense. I think I will try and test every 3 months, we are living overseas at the moment and to have them done privately is very cheap - couldn't afford it in the UK.