Thyroglobulin Antibodies (0 - 1 IU/L)

An abnormal test result may indicate that you have a higher risk for an autoimmune thyroid condition, such as:        

Hyperthyroidism:

Hyperthyroidism happens when the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. This condition also is called overactive thyroid. Hyperthyroidism speeds up the body's metabolism. That can cause many symptoms, such as weight loss, hand tremors, and rapid or irregular heartbeat.

Several treatments are available for hyperthyroidism. Anti-thyroid medicines and radioiodine can be used to slow the amount of hormones the thyroid gland makes. Sometimes, hyperthyroidism treatment includes surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. In some cases, depending on what's causing it, hyperthyroidism may improve without medication or other treatment.

Hyperthyroidism sometimes looks like other health problems. That can make it hard to diagnose. It can cause many symptoms, including:

• Losing weight without trying.
• Fast heartbeat, a condition called tachycardia.
• Irregular heartbeat, also called arrhythmia.
• Pounding of the heart, sometimes called heart palpitations.
• Increased hunger.
• Nervousness, anxiety and irritability.
• Tremor, usually a small trembling in the hands and fingers.
• Sweating.
• Changes in menstrual cycles.
• Increased sensitivity to heat.
• Changes in bowel patterns, especially more-frequent bowel movements.
• Enlarged thyroid gland, sometimes called a goiter, which may appear as a swelling at the base of the neck.
• Tiredness.
• Muscle weakness.
• Sleep problems.
• Warm, moist skin.
• Thinning skin.
• Fine, brittle hair.

Older adults are more likely to have symptoms that are hard to notice. These symptoms may include an irregular heartbeat, weight loss, depression, and feeling weak or tired during ordinary activities.

Hyperthyroidism can be caused by several medical conditions that affect the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. It has a big impact on the body. Every part of metabolism is controlled by hormones that the thyroid gland makes.

The thyroid gland produces two main hormones: thyroxine (T-4) and triiodothyronine (T-3). These hormones affect every cell in the body. They support the rate at which the body uses fats and carbohydrates. They help control body temperature. They have an effect on heart rate. And they help control how much protein the body makes.

Hyperthyroidism happens when the thyroid gland puts too much of those thyroid hormones into the bloodstream. Conditions that can lead to hyperthyroidism include:

• Graves' disease. Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland. That prompts the thyroid to make too much thyroid hormone. Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
• Overactive thyroid nodules. This condition also is called toxic adenoma, toxic multinodular goiter and Plummer disease. This form of hyperthyroidism happens when a thyroid adenoma makes too much thyroid hormone. An adenoma is a part of the gland that is walled off from the rest of the gland. It forms noncancerous lumps that can make the thyroid bigger than usual.
• Thyroiditis. This condition happens when the thyroid gland becomes inflamed. In some cases, it's due to an autoimmune disorder. In others, the reason for it is unclear. The inflammation can cause extra thyroid hormone stored in the thyroid gland to leak into the bloodstream and cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

Hashimoto thyroiditis:

Thyroiditis is when your thyroid gland becomes irritated. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common type of this health problem. It is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when your body makes antibodies that attack the cells in your thyroid. The thyroid then can't make enough of the thyroid hormone. Many people with this problem have an underactive thyroid gland. That's also known as hypothyroidism. They have to take medicine to keep their thyroid hormone levels normal.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder. Normally, your autoimmune system protects your body by attacking bacteria and viruses. But with this disease, your immune system attacks your thyroid gland by mistake. Your thyroid then can't make enough thyroid hormone, so your body can't work as well.

Things that may make it more likely to you for to get Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are:

Being a woman. Women are about 7 times more likely to have the disease. Hashimoto's thyroiditis sometimes begins during pregnancy.

Middle age. Most cases happen between 40 to 60 years of age. But it has been seen in younger people.

Heredity. The disease tends to run in families. But no gene has been found that carries it.

Autoimmune diseases. These health problems raise a person’s risk. Some examples are rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. Having this type of thyroiditis puts you at higher risk for other autoimmune illnesses.

Hashimoto's disease progresses slowly over the years. You may not notice signs or symptoms of the disease. Eventually, the decline in thyroid hormone production can result in any of the following:

• Fatigue and sluggishness
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Increased sleepiness
• Dry skin
• Constipation
• Muscle weakness
• Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
• Joint pain and stiffness
• Irregular or excessive menstrual bleeding
• Depression
• Problems with memory or concentration
• Swelling of the thyroid (goiter)
• A puffy face
• Brittle nails
• Hair loss
• Enlargement of the tongue

Not everyone with Hashimoto’s disease develops hypothyroidism. If you have high antibody levels but don’t have clinical hypothyroidism, your healthcare provider will likely monitor your thyroid levels instead of starting treatment.

If Hashimoto’s disease leads to hypothyroidism, the go-to treatment is a medication called levothyroxine. It’s a synthetic (manufactured) form of the hormone T4 that your thyroid makes. This medication helps restore the normal levels of thyroid hormone your body needs. You’ll need to take it every day for the rest of your life. Over time, you may need a different dose of the medication. Your provider will know how to adjust your dose to make sure that your hypothyroidism is well-managed.

Underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism:

Hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid, is when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones to meet your body’s needs. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. Thyroid hormones control the way your body uses energy, so they affect nearly every organ in your body, even the way your heart beats. Without enough thyroid hormones, many of your body’s functions slow down.

Women are much more likely than men to develop hypothyroidism. The disease is also more common among people older than age 60.

You are more likely to have hypothyroidism if you:

• had a thyroid problem before, such as a goiter
• had surgery or radioactive iodine to correct a thyroid problem
• received radiation treatment to the thyroid, neck, or chest
• have a family history of thyroid disease
• were pregnant in the past 6 months
• have Turner syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects women

Your thyroid is also more likely to be underactive if you have other health problems, including:

• Celiac disease
• Sjögren’s syndrome, a disease that causes dry eyes and mouth
• pernicious anemia, a condition caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency
• type 1 or type 2 diabetes
• rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that affects the joints
• lupus, a chronic autoimmune inflammatory condition

Systemic lupus erythematosus:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is the most common type of lupus. SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs. It can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels.

Type 1 diabetes:

If you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t make insulin or makes very little insulin. Insulin helps blood sugar enter the cells in your body for use as energy. Without insulin, blood sugar can’t get into cells and builds up in the bloodstream. High blood sugar is damaging to the body and causes many of the symptoms and complications of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes was once called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes. It usually develops in children, teens, and young adults, but it can happen at any age. Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2—about 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1.

Additional note: Thyroglobulin antibodies are also useful in monitoring thyroid cancer patients after the removal of the thyroid gland. The presence of antibodies after a thyroidectomy may mean there's new thyroid tissue growing, and possibly a thyroid cancer recurrence. Antibodies to thyroglobulin may decrease with time after total thyroidectomy. They may also make it more challenging to monitor thyroglobulin levels as an indicator of thyroid cancer recurrence