Hashimoto's or not?

[FaithforHealing]

I'm curious about others having their hypothyroidism being dx'd as Hashimoto's, and the levels on their labs. Can they be low and still be classified as Hashimoto's? I have heard varying opinions on this. (My results are below)

Is there a more definitive test to make the determination? Thanks.

Thyroglob Ab
< 0.9 IU/mL (Normal)
Date Feb 03, 2015 09:00 a.m. EST Reference Range0.0-4.0

TPO Ab
< 0.3 IU/mL (Normal)
Date Feb 03, 2015 09:00 a.m. EST Reference Range0.0-9.0

[Dee1956]

Thanks so much for the information, I really appreciate, I was just passing by :)  
and happened to see this.
Dee

[FaithforHealing]

Thanks, Barb. I don't know if it is significant to know the difference of the cause, but I was just curious. Maybe my doctor will enlighten me on it.

[Barb135]

If you check your home page, your watch list is still there on the left hand side of the page, where it says "Applications"  Below that is "Questions for You", then Posts, then Watch List... that part of it still works - if you click that, it will show you  which threads you're watching.  It's just the e-mail notification that isn't working and I've been told they're working on it, so it's supposed to be coming back, but it's anyone's guess when that will be.

As far as Hashimoto's and the antibody question, I've also been told that an ultrasound can determine Hashimoto's by the characteristics of the thyroid (swelling/inflammation, etc), though whether that's conclusive or not is probably controversial, as well as everything else.  Maybe everything combined, lacking antibodies, would be sufficient for diagnosis.  

From what I've read, FNA is supposed to be conclusive for Hashimoto's and often shows Hurthle cells and lymphocytes.

[FaithforHealing]

Thanks again for clearing up the info on what the nodules or FNA can, or might, reveal! I appreciate your comments!

[goolarra]

I think the watch list might be a thing of the past.  It's been gone for a while now, and I miss it, too.

This is one of those topics that I've had a hard time verifying, and I'm not sure if people are actually antibody negative or if for some reason they TEST negative (false negative).

No, I don't think nodules alone are enough for a diagnosis of Hashi's.  Nodules are very common, and apparently even healthy people have them.  Imaging is not my forte, but I believe the nodules associated with Hashi's do have certain distinct characteristics.  Once again, this isn't my best area, but I believe FNA picks up changes in the cells characteristic of Hashi's rather than picking up the antibodies themselves.

To some extent, it doesn't matter what the cause of your hypo is.  All hypo is treated the same.  However, it is nice to know if you have an autoimmune disease because to the increased risk of getting multiples and because they tend to run in families.  So, your relatives might find the information valuable.  

Both TPOab and TGab can be somewhat (a term I've never seen defined) elevated with other autoimmune disease, and TGab can be somewhat elevated with thyroid cancer.  I think that's why there's an "allowable" reference range.  On diagnosis, most of us had antibodies through the roof.  Mine were TPOab 900+ and TGab 3,000+, and those astronomical numbers are not unusual.  So, I'd say anything not borderline can pretty much be ignored.    

[FaithforHealing]

Thanks for your response! I'm just curious how someone can have an autoimmune disorder like Hashi's without antibodies being detected? I thought that was necessary for the dx, but some say it's not. Or does the number have to be exactly 0 otherwise <0.9 or <0.3 is still considered detected?
Faith

[FaithforHealing]

Thank you for responding! I didn't see your response right away as I no longer get notifications for the watch list and then I get busy and forget to  keep checking back. I guess they are working on that issue.

Yes, I have heard the same thing, and the contradiction you point out is what I am questioning.

As to your point about nodules, are you saying that it is known that nodules only appear with Hashi's and not with secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism; and therefore, nodules in and of themselves make a definitive diagnosis of Hashi's without antibodies being present in the blood labs?  Or when you say, "the nodules characteristic of Hashi's" is there a certain type of nodule only germane to Hashi's and not to other types of hypothyroidism?

Regarding the FNA, can antibodies be detected in the aspirated cells when they do not show up in blood work to verify Hashi's?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this! I was just dx'd in February so I don't know a lot about all of this; just trying to learn. :)  I'm curious to know what went wrong to cause the hypo if I don't have Hashi's. On the other hand, maybe it doesn't really matter at this point. :)

Faith

[Manonlinehan]

Its the thyroid antibodies that tell you if your hashimoto or not. you could just by hypo . I am Hashi and my TPO Ab is usually in the 500-600 range

[goolarra]

I have read that some people who have Hashi's test positive for neither antibody.  This has always seemed a contradiction in terms to me since Hashi's is an autoimmune disease, so how can you have it without antibodies?  An ultrasound would tell you if you have the nodules characteristic of Hashi's, and FNA can determine for certain.