Thyroid Antibodies

[JoJoloveschocolate]

Just read a post from Thyroid UK about antibodies. The raised TPO connection seems clear, but then It says

“The next group is the TG Ab. These levels rise as well as the TPO Ab levels in autoimmune thyroiditis, but to a lesser degree...”

I don’t understand what this is saying…does it mean that BOTH antibodies are elevated/have to be elevated at the same time for a diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis? I mean - are they saying that if TPO are NOT raised/remain normal, but TG Ab ARE raised, then it’s not autoimmune. I have elevated TG Ab, but my TPO within range. Sorry. I’m still learning and trying to understand. It’s probably the way I’m reading it.

[TiggerMe]

NHS only seems to test TPO so that can't be right that you need a positive of both... my TG have never been raised only TPO... so the opposite of you

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to TiggerMe]

It says for TPO : “The first group, the TPO Ab, are found raised in Hashimoto’s disease – otherwise known as autoimmune thyroiditis.”

[Jazzw]

No, it can be either or both for a diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease.

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to Jazzw]

Thank you, Jazzw. I thought that was the case and that’s what I have read on the forum. The TUK posts aboutt antibodies seems very clear about raised TPO saying “The first group, the TPO Ab, are found raised in Hashimoto’s disease – otherwise known as autoimmune thyroiditis.” But the tgab part doesn’t seem to be as clear to me. I think I need to read it again. I may have mashed my brain with thyroid- related stuff.

[greygoose]

“The next group is the TG Ab. These levels rise as well as the TPO Ab levels in autoimmune thyroiditis, but to a lesser degree...”

It's not strictly true that the TgAB are raised 'to a lesser degree', either. My TgAB were in the thousands, but my TPOab only slightly over-range.

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to greygoose]

“In the thousands” …whaaaat!! Blimey. That blows the “to a lesser degree” right out of the water!!

[greygoose in reply to JoJoloveschocolate]

Exactly!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

NHS won’t currently test TG antibodies unless TPO antibodies are high

Also won’t diagnose autoimmune thyroid disease if just TG antibodies are

Even though research shows high TG antibodies associated with “symptom burden”

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

Generally TG antibodies seem to reduce the lower TSH is

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to SlowDragon]

Oh yes. I forgot about that - the NHS. Thanks for reminding me, SD. The info gets confusing and takes a while to stick in my mind. I wonder why they won’t diagnose on positive tgab alone? Any idea?

I just can’t help but still feel like I’m stuck in a strange, nowhere place of “un-diagnosis.” I was diagnosed with CFS and Fibro before hypo - more strange states of “un-diagnosis”. It still feels a lot like being fobbed-off and not believed, or making a fuss over nothing. When I told my GP about the Medichecks Tgab test showing as positive, he just pretty much shrugged it off. But if I look at other sites, or lab blood test info - a lot of places do confirm Hashimotos based on Tgab alone.And I’ve seen posts from people who have had endo diagnose Hashis based on Tgab only. The medichecks Gp said on the report it can be related to Hashimotos, but didn’t confirm that that’s what I had. I don’t know why it bothers me, but it really does. Must be because of the cfs and fms “history” with Gps telling me there’s nothing wrong with me, and being trapped in that kind of “everything is normal” wilderness. If I lived in another country I’d probably be formally diagnosed.When I say I have Hashis I feel like a fraud!! Ah well, at least the folk here understand. Just thought - my tsh came down to 0.2 and my tgab went up! Any ideas why that might be SD? I have just recently started a GF diet and have been feeling generally better all round so maybe that is the culprit. I think I had a coeliac test in the past when i was diagnosed with cfs and it was neg…I think…I really need to check that.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to JoJoloveschocolate]

Could you get ultrasound scan of thyroid via GP

Or privately £100

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SD. I mentioned it to the gp last time, but he wasn’t very helpful and fobbed me off…yet again. I might ask another gp, next time I go.