Difference between thyroid antibodies

[boxesandplanes]

I'm wondering what the difference is between the thyroglobulin and peroxidase antibodies are and why one would be elevated and one not please? I've attached a screenshot of results to show what I mean.

[tattybogle]

Hi there boxesandplanes....... are u a joiner

I have put links to some good articles that explain (as much as is known anyway !)

about the antibodies in autoimmune thyroid disease.

But if you are like me it will take you 6 moths to understand it

It's interesting though.

thyroidpatients.ca/2020/04/...

thyroidpatients.ca/2020/04/...

thyroidpatients.ca/2020/05/...

[boxesandplanes in reply to tattybogle]

Thanks tattybogle.

Now not a joiner, move around alot!

So from what I can gather, my results show hashimotos.

I was diagnosed with this 5 years ago after needing carbimazole for hyperthyroidism. Then put on thyroxine for 5 years which made me feel much worse, then I stopped it in Sept 2019. And these are results from Nov 2019.

Tsh has now come down to 1.

So what does it mean if TPO raised but normal tsh?

[tattybogle in reply to boxesandplanes]

Mmm. Interesting............i'll have to think about it over coffee !

assuming you had confirmed Graves disease antibodies T(sh)Rab, before you were put on carbimazole ? (we keep seeing people treated for Graves when actually it was the start of Hashimoto's, hence the ?)

Re. 'normal' TSH......... your current 1. is good, previous 3.82 despite being 'normal' is too high.

Hopefully someone else with more experience of Graves (and what follows) will be along shortly.

[boxesandplanes in reply to tattybogle]

No I didn't get told I had graves disease. I just had something like 0.004 tsh and symptoms of it and went on carbimazole for a month and then went to tsh of about 90, and was put on thyroxine for 5 years, then took myself off it last September. These results are only 2 months after stopping thyroxine so I am not paying too much notice to the tsh there.

Now it is good tsh.

I was just interested in what the antibodies mean without tsh issues

[tattybogle in reply to boxesandplanes]

As far as i understand it.(!) TPOab's are associated with Autoimune Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's /Ord's), and in folk without symptoms and 'normal' thyroid blood results, their presence indicates an increased likelyhood of going on to develop 'overt' Hypothyroidism in the future.

TGab's on the other hand can be raised in more circumstances than just Autoimmune Hypo.

Rarely, some cases of folk having confirmed Graves and Hashimoto's at the same time are reported in case studies (and a few on here) where presumably the thyroid is playing a constant game of tug of war between the two states.

I can't remember just now whether Graves usually has some TPOab's as well as TRab's, or whether that makes you 'odd'........ hopefully someone else will though.

plus , to confuse the issue,the fact that antibody results are a snapshot in time , even if you find them once, they can go up and down.

[greygoose]

So what does it mean if TPO raised but normal tsh?

Your TSH is not 'normal'. It's in-range, yes, but that doesn't automatically make it normal because the ranges are unrealistic.

A normal TSH is around one. Certainly no more than 2. Over 2, it shows your thyroid is struggling to make enough hormone to make you well. Once it gets to 3, you are technically hypo.

Unfortunately, it's rare to get diagnosed at 3 - although in some countries you will be. Most doctors like it to go over-range before they will diagnose. However, in the UK and Canada, they like to leave you until it goes over 10! But, if you have raised anitbodies - Hashi's/Autoimmune Thyroiditis - plus an over-range TSH, the NHS guidelines say you should be diagnosed and treated.

[tattybogle in reply to greygoose]

TSh is 1 now GG , see replies

[greygoose in reply to tattybogle]

True. But that does not signify an improvement in thyroid health, because when you have Hashi's, levels - especially the TSH - can jump around. It was over three, so we can assume from that that some damage has already been done to the thyroid.