Antibody LEVELS or just presence of?

[Kowalamom]

Do the numerical levels of antibodies signify anything, or just the presence of the antibody that matters?

For example, on my labs my Thyroid microsomal antibodies level says >1000, and the normal is listed as <40.  Does the seemingly high level mean anything in and of itself?

There's a LOT to learn about reading these labs, huh?  :)    I have three pages here that may as well be in Sanskrit!  I can see which things I am showing high or low for, but I'm having a difficult time seeing them as one big picture...  Is there a resource that helps to understand them better when taken as a group?  I've been looking them up one by one, but I'm struggling with understanding their inter-relationships.

Thanks in advance for any input.

[Smilerdeb]

High antibodies just mean that they are attacking the thyroid and will eventually make the thyroid defunct and not function anymore which is why your TSH was 55.
You are on the right road so keep up the good work.
Knowledge and research are the best tools for wellness.

[goolarra]

Join our club!  Hashi's is the most "popular" cause of hypo in the States.  Your FT3 and FT4 don't look all that terrible.  And your TSH is coming down, so I assume you're on meds. It looks like you're in the "fine tuning stage".  The relatively high TSH is telling you that your body wants your T3 and T4 levels somewhat higher, but it looks like you're on the road.  Keep up the good work.

[Kowalamom]

Thanks for your input!  :)

I already got the Hashi's diagnosis.  TSH is now down from 55.03. I had mainly been curious if the (seemingly) high antibodies # meant whether it was more serious or meant anything at all.

My doc didn't mention Celiac disease, although she did say I am not absorbing nutrients from my food.  Do the antibodies mean I HAVE this also?

One last question, please...  my PTH is 81.4 (range 11.0-68.0).  Is this significant?  From what I searched, it ties in to calcium, but mine is OK at8.8......

Thanks in advance for shedding any light!  (And sorry to anyone patient enough to read this for my ignorance.  Am trying to learn.)

[Smilerdeb]

TRANSGLUTAMINASE ABS is to test for celiac disease.
Hope that helps.

[Smilerdeb]

If your doctor has told you that you have tested positive for "thyroid antibodies" .... what does that mean? Usually, it indicates that your thyroid is in the process of autoimmune failure. Not failed yet, and not failed enough to register in the standard TSH thyroid test, but in the process of failing.
It looks like your thyroid is failing and you are HYPO with a TSH of 12.93 and should be on thyroid hormones asap.
Usually the starting dose is 50mcg daily and blood test done 4-6 weeks later.
All the best.

[Kowalamom]

Thanks for the input!  I'm learning!   :)

Here are some other labs, if you could shed extra light....

T3FREE    2.74
T4FREE    .98
TOTAL T3   118
T-UPTAKE   1.18
TOTAL T4   7.9
THYROID MICROSOMAL ABS   >1000
THYROGLUBULIN AB   67
TSH   12.93

and there's another antibody listed separately, so I don't know whether to include it:
TRANSGLUTAMINASE ABS   1.06

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

[goolarra]

The level of the antibodies gives you an indication of how fast your thyroid is losing function.  It's getting attacked at a faster rate the higher the antibodies.  Microsomal AB is also called TPOab (thyroid peroxidase antibodies), so you might use that to search the internet also.  Can you post other labs?  You'll be reading Sanskrit before you know it!