Just received my results, but I do not understand them. THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES - 364

[Lotty1985]

Hello everyone,

Today I received my results, and to be honest, I do not understand them at all. I am hoping someone able to explain them to me please?

My Mother and Nan, has an underactive thyroid, and my two aunts have an overactive thyroid. I have been experiencing similar symptoms to an underactive thyroid for such a long time, but the GP was not listening to me and tried to put me on antidepressants. So I paid for Medichecks and now do not know where I am still with my thyroid and what to say to my GP.

Medichecks Results:

"Hello Charlotte, thank you for choosing to monitor your health with Medichecks. I can see that you are taking this test as you suspect that your thyroid gland is underactive.

I’m pleased to report that your thyroid stimulating hormone, thyroxine and T3 are all normal which suggest healthy thyroid function.

Your thyroglobulin antibodies are positive. These antibodies are found in 1 in 10 normal individuals but can be associated with uncommon autoimmune thyroid diseases, especially Hashimoto’s disease.

Up to 25% of people with normal thyroid function will test positive for thyroid antibodies, the presence of thyroid antibodies does increase the likelihood that they may develop thyroid problems, however many will not go on to develop thyroid disease. I suggest monitoring your thyroid function on an annual basis, or more frequently if you develop new symptoms.

I hope you find this information useful

Best wishes

TSH 22 Mar 2022

2.34

mU/L

0.27 - 4.2 R

FREE T3 22 Mar 2022

5.58

pmol/L

3.1 - 6.8 R

FREE THYROXINE 22 Mar 2022

15.5

pmol/L

12 - 22 R

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES

22 Mar 2022

364

IU/mL

< 115 R

What might a high result mean?

Elevated thyroglobulin antibodies mean that your immune system is attacking your thyroid gland. This can affect the gland's ability to produce thyroid hormones. If you already know that you have a thyroid condition, or your test results show that you are under-producing thyroid hormones, then an autoimmune condition is almost certainly the cause. Having elevated antibodies raises your risk of going on to develop a thyroid disorder so it is recommended that you regularly monitor your thyroid hormones, especially if you become symptomatic. However, some people with elevated antibodies never go on to develop a thyroid problem.

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES

22 Mar 2022

31

IU/mL

< 34 R

What might a high result mean?

High levels of thyroid peroxidase antibodies mean that your thyroid gland is under attack from your own immune system. Elevated thyroid peroxidase antibodies are seen in both Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which causes an underactive thyroid, and Graves' disease, which causes your thyroid to be overactive. Elevated antibodies are often seen in people who already have a diagnosed thyroid condition or who have abnormal thyroid hormones, and can confirm the cause. In some people, thyroid antibodies can be high, but the production of thyroid hormones remains normal. However, having elevated antibodies increases your risk that you will develop a thyroid condition over time. It is therefore important to monitor your thyroid hormones regularly. Some people with raised antibodies never go on to develop a thyroid disorder."

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Did you do thyroid test early morning, ideally before 9am

Did you also get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

If not - ask GP to test

Low vitamin levels extremely common with thyroid issues

Improving low vitamin levels often helps reduce symptoms

Presumably you have some symptoms, if paid for private testing?

[greygoose]

Your thyroglobulin antibodies are under the top of the range, so are negative, so don't mean anything. Forget those.

Your thyroid peroxidase antibodies, on the other hand, are so close to the top of the range, that it's more than likely you do have Hashi's - aka Autoimmune thyroditis. Antibodies fluctuate all the time, so on another test they could very well be well over the top of the range.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to greygoose]

Greygoose

TG antibodies are over range at 364 (<115)

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES

22 Mar 2022

364IU/mL (< 115 R)

[greygoose in reply to SeasideSusie]

OH dear! Whatever was I thinking? Yes, you're right, sorry Lotty, my mistake. So, it looks like you do have Hashi's, then.

Thank you, Susie, for picking me up on that.

[Lotty1985]

Thank you, everyone. My test was at 10:25am.In January I went to my GP as I was struggling so much. The GP tested my TSH, which was 2.57 and refused to do any more tests as I'm under the threshold. However, with my family history and my symptoms getting worse, I pushed for the T3 & T4. My blood were taken and after 3 weeks of waiting, the Doctor text me to say the Labs refused to test my blood!

The Doctor could see me getting worse and referred me to the Endocrinologist. After 2.5 weeks, I received another text from my Doctor saying my TSH appears normal and excludes a diagnosis of Hypothyroidism and will not take me on.

I have now paid for a test last week and have these results today. Can I ask, what would the next steps be please?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lotty1985]

What are your main symptoms

High TG antibodies can cause plenty of symptoms

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/303...

Elevated TgAb levels are associated with symptom burden in HT patients, suggesting a role of thyroid autoimmunity in clinical manifestations of HT. Based on these results, we recommend screening for TgAb antibodies in HT patients with symptom burden. We also suggest that further work on understandings of symptoms appearance due to their autoimmune or hypothyroid causation is needed.

NHS rarely accepts diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s) on just high TG antibodies

They only accept high TPO antibodies as definitive confirmation of Hashimoto’s

Request GP test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Also coeliac blood test too

Likely to have low vitamin levels

Improving these low levels can significantly improve symptoms

Come back with new post once you get results

Thyroid levels are well within range at moment

Retest thyroid levels again in 6 months