Description

Thyroid antibody testing is primarily ordered to help diagnose an autoimmune thyroid disease and to separate it from other forms ofthyroiditis. It may be ordered to help investigate the cause of an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter) and/or performed as a follow-up when otherthyroid test results (such as T3, T4, and/or TSH) show signs of thyroid dysfunction. Mild to moderately elevated levels of thyroid antibodiesmay be found in a variety of thyroid and autoimmune disorders, such as thyroid cancer, Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, perniciousanemia, and autoimmune collagen vascular diseases.Significantly increased concentrations most frequently indicate thyroid autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves disease.Presence of these antibodies in the mother can increase the risk of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism in the fetus or newborn.