Topic of the Week
Let’s Talk Antibodies!
Let’s Talk Antibodies!
Sadly, I still see the wrong antibodies being tested every day. Every single day! What antibodies has your doc tested? If they’re the wrong ones your doc is not Graves savvy.
TRab – Thyrotropin (TSH) Receptor Antibodies. This test measures both the stimulating and blocking antibodies.
TSI – Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin. This test measures the stimulating antibodies.
TBII – Thyrotropin (TSH) Binding Inhibitor Immunoglobulin. This test measures the blocking antibodies.
It’s only necessary to test 2 of these because we can calculate the third by default.
You are NOT in full antibody remission until both TSI and TBII are at or below remission level for at least 6 months. Antibodies wax and wane on their own so we don’t know if they’re going to stay at remission levels until they’ve done so for a minimum of half a year. We don’t stop meds until they’ve stayed in remission for 6 to 12 months or you’re going hyPO even on a tiny microdose with a sufficient amount of iodine in your diet.
If your doc is testing only TPO and TGab they are NOT Graves savvy. These Hashimotos antibodies can be present in Gravesters but they usually just indicate inflammation NOT dual diagnosis of both Graves and Hashi. Diagnosing both diseases together is more complex than just antibody testing.
The term “remission” applies only to antibody levels NOT thyroid levels.
I 
my ! Happily teaching others to their too!
