Thyroid antibodies

[Stargazing1608]

Can thyroid antibodies that were originally in the high hundreds reduce to normal levels over time.

[greygoose]

Over a lot of time, once the thyroid has been completely destroyed, yes. But, antibodies fluctuate all the time, so can be over-range on one test, and within the range on another. It doesn't mean much.

[tattybogle]

if you mean TPOab (Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies) they do go down , (and up, and down) You might reasonably expect that over many years as the thyroid is slowly destroyed , they do reduce. They don't actually do the damage to the thyroid , they are indicators that it has happened, they attach to thyroid peroxidase that came from the thyroid when it was attacked by the immune system.... so once there is less/no healthy tissue left to damage, there would naturally be less antibodies found.

I had TPOab 2499 at (hypo) diagnosis in 2003, 6 weeks later they were >3000.

In 2016 they were 195

I have no idea what happened to them in between or since.. but i never did anything to actively try and reduce them .. it just happened.

[Stargazing1608 in reply to tattybogle]

At diagnosis in 2006/7 I was told they were in the 3000 mark. I didn't know anything about the thyroid then so didn't know which reading it was. My latest bloods from Thriva show TPOAb 12.3 and TgAB 27.8. The results were similar about 10 months ago. As I said in my reply to Grey goose would I still be considered to have Hashimoto's?

[tattybogle in reply to Stargazing1608]

Yes you would . based on your historic level of TPOab, your ensuing hypothyroidism ..... and presumably if anybody looked , based on physical evidence of damage to your thyroid that would be seen on a scan.

[tattybogle in reply to tattybogle]

? Reply to Greygoose seems to have 'flown off' somewhere .. can't see one.

[Stargazing1608 in reply to tattybogle]

Don't know where it went lol. Early migration for winter perhaps?

[Stargazing1608 in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you, I've never had a scan of the thyroid to see what state it's in so I might try and organise that.

[greygoose in reply to Stargazing1608]

Umm... sorry, but you didn't reply to greygoose.

[Stargazing1608 in reply to greygoose]

Sorry Greygoose, typed a reply but don't know what happened! It seems my antibodies have been within normal range for a while now. I thin I need a scan to see what state my thyroid is in. Haven't had a scan at all in all the 13 years since diagnosis

[greygoose in reply to Stargazing1608]

Well, I can only repeat that if you once had over-range antibodies, you have Hashi's and Hashi's doesn't go away whatever the antibody level. Because, the antibodies are not the disease. So, their level is that important. Unless you're thinking that your thyroid has completely been destroyed?

Did you ever have a goitre? Or has your neck always been flat? No goitre means it isn't actually Hashi's, it's Ord's. But, the medical communty doesn't differentiate between them. To them, it's all Autoimmune Thyroiditis.

[Stargazing1608 in reply to greygoose]

No goitre or swelling but I was wondering about the destruction of my thyroid which is why I was considering asking for a scan