Stranger to auto immune disease
 

Hi all, by the title, autoimmune disease is not something I've really considered before, however over the last few months there have been a number of possible triggers..

• head trauma which may have triggered a bout of CFS
• serious over-training in the gym coupled with restricted calorie intake
• heavy stress from work

I suspect the latter two would be the main culprits

Symptoms

Fatigue
Ongoing flu/cold symptoms - worse at 2-3am and with night sweats
Feeling the above symptoms during exercise and after

Without going into detail, I've had pretty much every blood test under the sun that would pick up the real 'nasties'.

Thyroid function assessed as normal via private blood test, everything comfortably within range, apart from thyroid peroxidase antibodies tested at 280.4 (normal range <34).

I have been advised this could cause thyroiditis in future and to see GP if I believe I have symptoms, I don't see this as urgent but I will definitely take the results to my GP within the next fortnight.

So my main questions are whether the triggers and symptoms I've described fit what anyone else has experienced or has knowledge of?

Without anyone expecting anyone to diagnose/alarm me over the internet :) and, considering TSH, T4, T3 are all normal, does anyone have a viewpoint on the significance my thyroid antibodies count ?

Your anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody level is very high and may indicate a thyroid auto-immune disease like Hashimoto disease or Graves disease.

When you see your GP I suggest that you get him/her to arrange for an anti-thyroglobulin antibody test. Serum levels of these antibodies are also raised in most cases of Hashimoto disease or Graves disease.

When those results are available your GP will (depending) be able to discuss treatment options with you, possibly after a referral to a clinical immunologist.

Thanks Kiwi

Yes, it is very high, but everything else they tested was in range - which is why I think the general comment was thyroid function was normal but I was advised to see my GP if I felt I had any auto-immune symptoms. I get the impression it is not mega urgent, but I definitely will be seeking further advice.

Luckily, they also tested Anti-Thyroglobulin and this came back at 12.5 (normal range <115). I've attached the results.

The impression I get is that the high thyroxidase has potential to cause Hashimotos or Graves if it isn't looked into??

How treatable Hashimotos or Graves anyway?

Ady, I think that your GP did a good job with that range of tests.

Elevated anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody levels are present in >90% of people with Hashimoto disease.

What might be happening (among other things I am an immunologist (PhD) but not a clinical immunologist (no medical qualifications) is that you are in the early stages of Hashimoto disease with no signs yet of compromised thyroid function - T3, T4 and TSH are all fine.

Alternatively, maybe the technician who ran your anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody test stuffed up (it happens...).

Next time you see your GP it might be an idea if you asked him/her to arrange a re-test to check this out. If the high value is confirmed then ask your GP how often your thyroid function should be checked - usually Hashimoto disease can be managed well with synthetic T4.