Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibodies and Hashimoto’s
There is some confusion about the role of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies in diagnosing Hashimoto’s. A large study using a national database called the NHANES database showed that only the TPO antibodies correlated with hypothyroidism and not anti-thyroglobulin antibodies.
The confusion seems to come that before the TPO antibody was identified, doctors used a test called an anti-microsomal antibody that was not as specific for Hashimoto’s as the TPO antibody. When that was the only test available for Hashimoto’s, an anti-thyroglobulin antibody was helpful because it could be used in complement with the anti-microsomal antibody to diagnose Hashimoto’s. However, now that the TPO antibody is standardized and is a very sensitive and specific test for Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, there is no reason to get a anti-thyroglobulin antibody unless the person has thyroid cancer, in which it is a useful test.
For more information on Dr. Friedman’s endocrinology practice, please go to www.goodhormonehealth.com.