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Suggest Treatment When Antibody Test Results Are High
Question: All my thyroid tests are normal but my antibody tests is in high normal range. Is that concerning? Am I on road for autoimmune?
Brief Answer:
This is not concerning
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Welcome back to HCM. I have gone through the question and understand your concerns.
Your thyroid antibodies are still on the normal range. So you need not be concerned. You can repeat it along with thyroid function tests after 1 year.
If thyroid antibodies are high and thyroid function is normal: it means you are at increased risk of developing auto immune hypothyroidism. Still as long as thyroid function is normal, no treatment is needed. In this situation what we do is periodic thyroid function test every 6-12 months and start on treatment only when TSH is above normal.
Hope I have answered your questions. If you have any further queries I will be happy to help you.
Regards,
Dr Ajish TP [MD,DM]
Consultant Endocrinologist
This is not concerning
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Welcome back to HCM. I have gone through the question and understand your concerns.
Your thyroid antibodies are still on the normal range. So you need not be concerned. You can repeat it along with thyroid function tests after 1 year.
If thyroid antibodies are high and thyroid function is normal: it means you are at increased risk of developing auto immune hypothyroidism. Still as long as thyroid function is normal, no treatment is needed. In this situation what we do is periodic thyroid function test every 6-12 months and start on treatment only when TSH is above normal.
Hope I have answered your questions. If you have any further queries I will be happy to help you.
Regards,
Dr Ajish TP [MD,DM]
Consultant Endocrinologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
How are these tests
Brief Answer:
Thyroid function test is normal
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Welcome back. The thyroid function is normal.
Thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) are done.
T4 and TSH is well within normal limits. T3 is low. T3 assay is not always reliable like TSH and T4 tests. So we will repeat it with next blood tests.
No treatment is needed for this blood tests
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Thyroid function test is normal
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Welcome back. The thyroid function is normal.
Thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) are done.
T4 and TSH is well within normal limits. T3 is low. T3 assay is not always reliable like TSH and T4 tests. So we will repeat it with next blood tests.
No treatment is needed for this blood tests
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Are the tests indicative of the beginings of hypothyroid
Brief Answer:
Not an indicator of hypothyroidism
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Welcome back.
Don't worry.
This blood tests are not indicative of early hypothyroidism. Initial changes in hypothyroidism is seen in T4 or TSH. T3 is usually last affected in hypothyroidism. So since T3 and T4 are normal here, there is no signs of hypothyroidism here.
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Not an indicator of hypothyroidism
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Welcome back.
Don't worry.
This blood tests are not indicative of early hypothyroidism. Initial changes in hypothyroidism is seen in T4 or TSH. T3 is usually last affected in hypothyroidism. So since T3 and T4 are normal here, there is no signs of hypothyroidism here.
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Is it normal to have antibodies? Shouldnt I have zero? Does everyone have some? I would think 1 is bad 34 terrible
Brief Answer:
Thyroid antibodies does not indicate disease
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
May I make few things clear
The prevalence of hypothyroidism and antibodies varies with population. In general hypothyroidism is seen in 5-10% of population, thyroid antibodies are seen in 15-20% of population.
So a good number of patients with antibodies will not develop hypothyroidism. Values well over 1000 is common in Hashimoto's (auto immune) hypothyroidism. So your value of 34 is not terrible.
Even if antibodies are more than 1000 the recommendations is to just check the thyroid function every 6-12 months and start treatment only when TSH is more than 5 miu/ml.
In your case the antibodies are not elevated above normal range. So in your case yearly thyroid function test is all that is needed.
Antibodies can be absent in some individuals. Only if it is more than a particular level we take it as positive or elevated. Below that is negative.
Hope this will clear your doubts
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Thyroid antibodies does not indicate disease
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
May I make few things clear
The prevalence of hypothyroidism and antibodies varies with population. In general hypothyroidism is seen in 5-10% of population, thyroid antibodies are seen in 15-20% of population.
So a good number of patients with antibodies will not develop hypothyroidism. Values well over 1000 is common in Hashimoto's (auto immune) hypothyroidism. So your value of 34 is not terrible.
Even if antibodies are more than 1000 the recommendations is to just check the thyroid function every 6-12 months and start treatment only when TSH is more than 5 miu/ml.
In your case the antibodies are not elevated above normal range. So in your case yearly thyroid function test is all that is needed.
Antibodies can be absent in some individuals. Only if it is more than a particular level we take it as positive or elevated. Below that is negative.
Hope this will clear your doubts
Regards
Dr Ajish TP
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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