High anti bodies

[Sylvia22]

I have a friend who has the following test results

T4 16

TSH 0.45

Antibodies 174

Doctors say she doesn’t need treating for underactive Thyroid. Why has she got such high antibodies then.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

It would help to have the reference ranges for the tests, ranges vary from lab to lab.

Presumably those are TPO antibodies, and the TSH and FT4 are within range.

Raised antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where the thyroid is attacked and gradually destroyed.

Hashimoto's causes fluctuations in test results (and symptoms) so another test might show different results for TSH and FT4 depending on whether the the thyroid is going through a "hypo" phase or a "hyper" phase.

She could just be at the beginning of her thyroid disease and the antibodies are present but not much of her thyroid has been affected at the moment.

For a diagnosis and to be started on Levo, TSH has to be over range so it's a waiting game.

She can try and help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped some members but there's no guarantee. Also, supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can apparently help reduce antibodies.

[Sylvia22 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks. I will pass your suggestions on to her

[MaisieGray]

You would really need to clarify which antibodies, and what are the respective references ranges; but if it was TPO Ab for which she tested positive, it does not necessarily mean that her thyroid has yet been compromised to the point that thyroid hormone levels have fallen to where replacement exogenously, is required. There can be a time lag between a positive antibody test, and someone becoming symptomatic, and in fact some people never go on to develop thyroid dysfunction at all. To clarify, autoimmune thyroiditis, aka Hashimoto's disease, has no medical treatment, it is the resulting hypothyroidism that is medicated for.

[Sylvia22 in reply to MaisieGray]

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Understanding Hashimoto's

hashimotoshealing.com/under...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...