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Suggest Remedies For Hypothyroidism Caused By Chronic Hashimoto's Disease
Question: What are thyroid antibodies and why would they be present after a thyroid ablation for Graves disease?
Brief Answer:
Thyroid
Detailed Answer:
Thyroid antibodies are also referred to thyroid auto-antibodies. They are so called because the antibodies attack one's own normal cells, hence the term auto. This is obviously abnormal because the usual function of antibodies is to protect us from infection. Instead these antibodies damage our own cells and organs leading to poor function. In this instance, these thyroid auto-antibodies destroy the thyroid gland, often rendering it inactive for life.The name of this medical problem is Hypothyroidism due to chronic Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This irreversible process mandates treatment with thyroid medication called levo thyroxine to replace the missing hormone which the damaged thyroid can no longer make.
Graves is an example of an auto-immune thyroid disease. It is however the opposite of hypothyroidism, and leads to hyperthyroidism ie an over active thyroid. The auto-antibodies in this condition are usually of a different kind. They are called TSI (Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulins) or TRABS (Thyroid Receptor stimulating Antibodies). But your doctor has ordered the other variety of antibodies as described above. You can ask him for his reasons to do so.
Ablating the thyroid with radio-active iodine generally has no impact on the presence of antibody levels in the blood.
Thyroid
Detailed Answer:
Thyroid antibodies are also referred to thyroid auto-antibodies. They are so called because the antibodies attack one's own normal cells, hence the term auto. This is obviously abnormal because the usual function of antibodies is to protect us from infection. Instead these antibodies damage our own cells and organs leading to poor function. In this instance, these thyroid auto-antibodies destroy the thyroid gland, often rendering it inactive for life.The name of this medical problem is Hypothyroidism due to chronic Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This irreversible process mandates treatment with thyroid medication called levo thyroxine to replace the missing hormone which the damaged thyroid can no longer make.
Graves is an example of an auto-immune thyroid disease. It is however the opposite of hypothyroidism, and leads to hyperthyroidism ie an over active thyroid. The auto-antibodies in this condition are usually of a different kind. They are called TSI (Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulins) or TRABS (Thyroid Receptor stimulating Antibodies). But your doctor has ordered the other variety of antibodies as described above. You can ask him for his reasons to do so.
Ablating the thyroid with radio-active iodine generally has no impact on the presence of antibody levels in the blood.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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