Thyroglobulin Antibodies

Immunology

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Description

Current guidelines suggest that simultaneous measurement of thyroglobulin antibodies and thyroglobulin should be carried out every 6-12 months following thyroid surgery, ideally both tests should be carried out in the same laboratory, using the same assay method for each [3]. Thyroglobulin antibodies, if present in the patients serum will interfere in assays to measure thyroglobulin resulting in underestimation of the thyroglobulin quantitation [1]. For this reason all patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma should be screened for the presence of thyroglobulin antibodies at the initiation of serial marker monitoring. Thyroglobulin antibodies do disappear in patients who achieve complete remission, although this may take up to 3 years [1]. There are a small percentage (1%) of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease that have negative TPO antibodies and positive thyroglobulin antibodies [4]. The use of thyroglobulin antibodies as a clinical marker of autoimmine thyroiditis is therefore restricted to those patients who have the symptoms and biochemical features of autoimmune thyroid disease but are found to be TPO antibody negative [2].

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Indications

The presence of thyroglobulin antibodies must be assessed when using the tumour marker thyroglobulin in patients with thyroid carcinoma, as they may interfere with the assay. Detection of thyroglobulin antibodies may be of use in TPO negative autoimmune thyroiditis.

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Sample Type

2mL Serum (Gel 5mL Yellow tube). Requests from outside Sheffield: Transport at ambient temperature via Royal Mail or Courier.

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Reference Range

Negative = <115 IU/mL.Reference range manufacturer derived and verified in house.

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Turnaround Time

Within 5 days

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Testing Frequency

Daily

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References

Kim WG, et al. Change of serum antithyroglobulin antibody levels is useful for the prediction of clinical recurrence in thyroglobulin-negative pateints with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. J Clin Endo Metab. 2008. 93(12):4683-4689. [Ref 1]PRU Handbook of Autoimmunity. 4th Edition. 2007. [Ref 2]Cooper DS, et al. Management guidelines for patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid. 2006. 16:109-142. [Ref 3]Nordyke RA, et al. The superiority of antimicrosomal over antithyroglobulin antibodies for detecting Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Arch Int Med. 1993. 153:862-865. [Ref 4]

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See Also

Thyroglobulin

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