Clinical significance
It is found in autoimmune thyroid disorders like Hashimoto’s
thyroiditis, Grave’s disease and also
thyroid carcinoma. Occasionaly used to
distinguish between Grave’s diseases
from toxic multinodular goiter when physical findings
are not diagnostic . Antithyroglobulin antibodies are specific antibodies produced by the immune system that bind to thyroglobulin.They may be present in a number of different disease states that affect the thyroid gland.It is imporatant to realize that a patient may develop antithyroglobulin antibodies at any time in the course of treatment or follow-up. Any time that thyroglobulin measured; the blood sample should be tested for antithyroglobulin antibodies to determine whether the measurement of thyroglobulin is valid.
Clinical applications;
- Used in etiology of the thyroid function disorder
- In conjunction with AMA these antibody test are used by many thyroidologists to confirm or rule out the involvement of autoimmune process in the 'Observed Hyperthyroidism '
Remarks;
- Though EIA and RIA methods are available, the reproducibility and reliability of the test done with HA(hemagglutination) is far more satisfying due to multiple dilution option.
- Levels may be as high as 1;12802 before treatment