The most important laboratory values in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Laboratory values play an important role in autoimmune diseases . For this reason, doctors pay attention to the blood values of patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The disease causes the thyroid to malfunction. For this reason, the thyroid values are constantly monitored during therapy in order to regulate the over-function and later under-function that occur.
As with all defects of the immune system, the antibodies are of great relevance in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Which blood values are important?
In the case of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, doctors focus primarily on blood tests that also affect the thyroid gland. These include the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine and tetraiodothyronine. In technical terms, doctors abbreviate the hormones as T3 and T4 . The most important part of the blood values in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is iodine. It makes up the majority of the thyroid hormones.
During the first phase of the autoimmune disease, those affected suffer from an incipient hyperthyroidism. This stage is called hashitoxicosis. Here, the thyroid gland produces significantly more hormones than in the healthy state. Normally, the blood levels of T3 and T4 are ten micrograms per day.
This means that the thyroid does not make more than 10 micrograms of thyronine in a 24-hour period. The blood levels in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are significantly higher. The thyroid shows signs of hyperfunction. This fact alone is not proof of an autoimmune disease. Therefore, doctors focus more on the antibodies during the blood test.
In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the antibody count increases
In connection with an overactive thyroid gland, the number of antibodies in the blood increases. In particular, this applies to thyroglobulin antibodies and TSH receptor auto-antibodies. In a healthy person, the normal value for TSH receptor auto-antibodies is between nine and 14 units per liter. The blood levels in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are almost twice as high.
Furthermore, the value of the TPO antibodies is of great importance. The abbreviation TPO stands for anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies. Normally there are 100 to 200 units of them in one liter of blood. In the first phase of the autoimmune disease, their number increases by 50 percent.
In order to create an accurate diagnosis, the doctors pay attention to the symptoms the patient is experiencing. If the signs fluctuate between the characteristic features of hyperfunction and hypofunction, the diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is obvious.
In hypothyroidism, the thyroid hormones decrease
In the course of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the overactive thyroid turns into underactive. This means that the thyroid produces significantly fewer hormones. The normal values of the hormone T 3 are 0.9 to 1.8 nanograms per milliliter of blood in healthy people. The free triiodothyronine is between 3.5 and eight nanograms per milliliter. In the second phase of the autoimmune disease, these values drop by more than half.
The T 4 is also one of the falling blood levels in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Normally, doctors measure 5.5 to eleven micrograms per deciliter in healthy people. The free tetraiodothyronine is 0.8 to 1.8 nanograms per deciliter of blood. The rapid descent of these values indicates progressive Hashimoto’s thyroiditis disease. In summary, doctors pay attention to the following blood values in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis during a blood test:
- FT 3 (free triiodothyronine),
- FT 4 (free levothyroxine, also called tetraiodothyronine),
- TAK (thyroglobulin antibodies),
- TPO-AK (anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies),
- MAK (microsomal antibodies),
- TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone),
- and TRAK (TSH receptor autoantibodies).
A regular check of the blood values becomes relevant
The over- and later under-function of the thyroid put a strain on the patient’s organism. The additional weakness of the immune system threatens numerous secondary diseases. Therefore, the regular control of blood values is of great importance. By examining the values, the doctor is able to regulate the function of the thyroid gland. This happens, for example, with tablets.
When treating Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the control of the blood values depends on the severity of the disease. If the antibodies in the blood are only slightly elevated, the TSH value is checked once a year.
If the values of the thyroid hormones fluctuate greatly, the check is carried out every three to four weeks. This happens until the proper adjustment of thyroid levels regulates the functioning of the organ. From this point onwards, monitoring blood values for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis twice a year is sufficient.
Summary of blood values for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
In this autoimmune disease, the levels of thyroid hormones play an important role. Particular attention is paid to the number of hormones T 3 and T 4 . In addition, the doctors check the amount of antibodies if Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is suspected. If there are strong fluctuations in the blood values, the check is carried out once a month. After the right attitude, a visit to the doctor twice a year is enough.
