thyroid autoantibodies
Last reviewed 01/2018
Thyroglobulin autoantibodies are present in:
- Grave's disease
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis
- idiopathic thyroid atrophy
- De Quervain's thyroiditis - transiently
- 7% of males, and 15-20% of females without thyroid disease
Antithyroid peroxidase antibodies (previously known as thyroid microsome autoantibodies) are present at:
- high titre, in:
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis
- idiopathic thyroid atrophy
- low titre, in:
- Grave's disease
- De Quervain's thyroiditis
- 8% of males, and 10% of females without thyroid disease
High titres of thyroid autoantibodies, particularly to thyroid microsomes, is associated with increased likelihood of progress to myxoedema as it reflects increased damage to the thyroid cells.
Other thyroid autoantibodies are not routinely measured.