Thyroglobulin antibodies

[red_devil22]

Does anyone know what causes thyroglobulin antibodies to increase after a thyroidectomy? Mine have been fluctuating since my TT 5 years ago. They have just increased from 743 ku/l to 930 ku/l.

[RedApple Administrator]

I don't know the answer to your question but a quick google brought up this article:

What Does It Mean To Have High Thyroglobulin Antibodies?

While this may be a test occasionally used to detect autoimmune thyroiditis, it is more common to use this test to determine if treatment for thyroid cancer has been effective or not. Indeed, providers often use TgAB as a tumor marker because your body will only continue to produce TgAB's if you still have thyroid tissue in your body. Thus, after thyroid cancer treatment, the goal is to have no TgAB's in your lab work after your thyroid has been removed. palomahealth.com/learn/high...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First step is to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing (as per previous post)

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Generally TG antibodies reduce as dose Levo is increased

High TG antibodies suggests your dose levothyroxine may need adjusting

[radd]

red_devil22,

There are different types of lymphocyte white blood cells but for simplicity I’ll refer to them all as ‘lymphocytes’, that stimulate both the humoral and cellular immune responses. They target infection, make antibodies to kill tumor cells, etc, and control immune responses including tolerance of self.

For whatever reason (molecular mimicry, prolonged antigen exposure, genetic predisposition, environmental modulation, etc) these same cells may dysfunction, interpreting healthy tissue as an antigen, and auto-antibodies are created from the lymphocytes. In the case of TGAb, these result after lymphocytes attack thyroglobulin which is a key protein and precursor to thyroid hormones.

Certain cells specialise in presenting an antigen to the lymphocytes and these can be present in peripheral places/organs that have lymphoid activity such as the lymph nodes, thymus, tonsils, etc, where further immune dysfunction means the type of lymphocyte keeps making autoantibodies, meaning it is possible to have TGAb without thyroid gland tissue, although only thyroid cells make and store thyroglobulin.

Each autoimmune condition works differently. For instance in hashi lymphocytes and some autoantibodies attack thyroid tissue, in graves antibodies inhibit the normal union of TSH with its receptor by stimulating or blocking, in rheumatoid arthritis these inflammatory cells infiltrate the joints, in Crohn’s Disease the immune system attacks the gut, colon and bowel, in Sjögren's the immune system attacks fluid secreting glands, eg saliva, tear but may extend to the lungs, kidneys, pancreas, etc, and many many more.

It is also possible after your TT, some thyroid gland tissue was left or has regrown and this is why when a TT is performed for cancer reason, TGAb is used to monitor regrowth of cancerous cells.

It might be prudent to use usual protocols for managing auto-antibodies to reduce risk of autoimmune activity involving other organs, especially your eyes as TED is common in Graves where it is thought the extra-ocular muscles share a common antigen recognised by the antibodies. Many people have more than one autoimmune condition due to cross over of auto-antibodies.

[McPammy]

thyroglobulin measures thyroid cancer. My sister had thyroid cancer and has to keep an eye on thyroglobulin levels. I’d flag your increase up with your Endocrinologist. Maybe you need an increase in your meds. Is your TSH suppressed as it should be?

[radd in reply to McPammy]

O/P hasn't said if TT was for cancer reason or Graves.

[McPammy in reply to radd]

Cancer and graves…

[red_devil22 in reply to McPammy]

My TT was for thyroid cancer and graves disease. My tg isn't rising that it always 0.01 its my tg antibodies that keep fluctuating.

[McPammy in reply to red_devil22]

Maybe flag it to your endocrinologist if they haven’t contacted you already.