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elevated antithyroid antibodies 20 years qafter total thyroidectomy

Hello. My niece had total thyroidectomy when she was 19 years old (she is now 45) secondary to papillary follicular carcinoma. Now TSH levels have gone up and positive for antithyroid antibodies. Is this a recurrence of her priimary problem?


This discussion is related to weird new symptoms.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your help. She has made an appt with her PCP and  most likely be seen also by an endocrinologist. So I will talk to her about including FT3 in her next bloodwork.
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Depending on the methodology used for testing, Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAB) can interfere with proper measurement of Thyroglobulin, which is, often, used as a tumor marker in those who have been treated for thyroid cancer.

In other words, the absence of Thyroglobulin should indicate that the cancer has not come back; however, the presence of the antibodies could cause the Tg level to be lower than it really is.  

Your niece should talk to her doctor to make sure no followup is necessary.

Her TSH is too high and her FT4 is too low in the range.  Does she have hypo symptoms?  Rule of thumb, is that FT4 be about mid range; that's where most of us feel best.  

Her doctor should also be testing Free T3, which is the active thyroid hormone.  FT3 is the hormone that correlates with symptoms.
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Avatar universal
NO, she has not been diagnosed with any other thyroid condition since her TT for papillary CA when she was 19 years old.
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Avatar universal
Here are the results:  TSH   6.7;  AntiTBG Ab 70 (N= 40 IU); FT4 12.3 (N 10-28)
       Thyroglobulin  <0.4
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649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Which thyroid antibodies are elevated?  There are 2 of them:  Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAB).

Had she been diagnosed with any other thyroid condition, besides the cancer, prior to the TT?
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