Thyroglobulin - what is it? What is the norm of thyroglobulin?

Everyone who suffers from thyroid dysfunctions or is examined by an endocrinologist on suspicion of autoimmune diseases, faced the need to donate blood to thyroglobulin. What it is, not all doctors explain. Therefore, people start to look for information on the Internet or from acquaintances. And often this leads to stressful situations, because, according to many, the analysis on thyroglobulin is done with a suspicion of cancer. But it is not always the case. Therefore, those who are faced with the need for such studies, you need to find out everything about thyroglobulin. What is it, you can check with your doctor or with other specialists. This is especially important for women, as they have hormonal failures more often.

What is thyroglobulin?

The thyroid gland is represented by the accumulation of small spherical formations - follicles. Inside them there is a large amount of protein thyroglobulin. What is it, know those who are disrupted thyroid hormone production . After all, this protein is the basis for their production. Passing through the cells of the gland, thyroglobulin breaks down into a tyrosine molecule and iodine atoms. Thus, thyroxine is obtained. This protein - a glycoprotein with a large molecular weight - can provide the production of the main thyroid hormones for two weeks. And it turns out that it is a kind of form for their storage, from which they are released as necessary. Not all patients who are prescribed hormone analysis can answer the question: thyroglobulin - what is it? In women, such an examination is done more often, since they are more prone to hormonal failures and thyroid dysfunction.

Antibodies to thyroglobulin

What is this is not known to everyone. With certain diseases of the thyroid gland, autoimmune aggression of the body is possible. In this case, the synthesis of hormones is broken, because antibodies destroy thyreoglobulin. What it is? This is a definite reaction of the body's immune system, which by means of special cells destroys the protein, taking it for an alien element. As a result, a person lacks hormones of the thyroid gland. Often, symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, weight loss indicate this. And then they prescribe an antibody test for thyroglobulin. This is done in the presence of diseases that increase the risk of dysfunction of the thyroid gland:

Down's syndrome;

- insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus;

- rheumatoid arthritis;

Hemolytic anemia.

In addition, such a study should be done by pregnant women with autoimmune diseases when determining the cause of infertility and for identifying a risk group among children whose mothers have endocrine disorders.

Blood content norm

This protein is mainly found in the follicles of the thyroid gland. Only in very small quantities is threoglobulin released into the blood. Its norm depends on many factors, and for each person it is different. The amount of thyroglobulin is determined by the size of the thyroid gland, the activity of its functioning and the body's need for hormones. But there are certain limits, the excess of which indicates a deviation in the functioning of the thyroid gland. Most often, this happens when its cells are destroyed, caused by inflammatory processes or external causes. Therefore, it is not often prescribed an analysis for thyroglobulin. The norm of its content in the blood is not more than 50 ng / ml. The analysis can show what size the thyroid gland is, how actively it functions and whether there are inflammatory processes in it. In most cases, when examining the level of thyroglobulin, it is important not for its quantity in the blood, but for the dynamics, that is, increase or decrease with time.

Indications for analysis

Sometimes it occurs that doctors unreasonably prescribe a blood test for thyroglobulin. What it is, not all patients know, and many such analysis frightens. But it is not always done when a cancer is suspected. Only those patients who have been removed from the thyroid gland, this study is shown regularly to prevent relapses. In addition, an analysis is made of thyroglobulin and those who are treated with radioactive iodine, in order to monitor the effectiveness of therapy. Assign it in some other cases:

- to study the development of congenital hyperthyroidism in infants;

- to control the development of thyroiditis;

- in a comprehensive study of iodine deficiency;

- to calculate the effectiveness of therapy for hyperthyroidism.

How correctly to hand over the analysis?

- Blood sampling is done from the veins in the morning, on an empty stomach. It is advisable not to eat already in the evening, do not smoke, exclude large physical exertion and avoid stressful situations.

- To obtain reliable results, it is also necessary to make an analysis for anti-thyroglobulin. What it is? These are antibodies to the protein that destroy it. If there are many, the level of thyroglobulin in the blood will be low.

- Three weeks before the delivery of blood, you must stop treatment with drugs containing thyroxine and other thyroid hormones.

- Analysis to determine the recurrence of cancer is made no earlier than three months after the operation or six months after the use of radioactive iodine.

Tyreoglobulin elevated - what does it mean?

If a lot of this protein is thrown into the blood, this can be a consequence of the destruction of thyroid cells. This can happen with different endocrine and autoimmune diseases. Therefore, increased thyroglobulin indicates that the patient can have:

- thyroiditis;

- diffuse toxic goiter;

- Based's disease ;

- benign adenoma;

- Purulent inflammation of the thyroid gland;

- complications after surgery, thyroid biopsy or trauma;

- destruction of thyroid cells for other reasons.

Also, the increase in the level of this protein in the blood happens after the use of radioactive iodine for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. Slightly elevated thyroglobulin levels also in patients with Down's syndrome, in patients with severe hepatic insufficiency or during pregnancy.

What can affect the results of the analysis?

Most often, false results are detected in the presence of antibodies to thyroglobulin. Therefore, their presence must also be identified. The results may affect the intake of hormonal medications, iodine preparations, the presence of chronic infectious diseases or hereditary predisposition. In addition, the analysis may be unreliable because of radiation exposure or the presence of toxins in the blood. Even severe stress can affect the level of thyroglobulin and antibodies to it. It was found that the concentration of this protein increases during pregnancy, as well as in women in old age. And taking oral contraceptives leads to an increase in antibodies to thyroglobulin. This can also affect the results of the analysis.

Is thyroglobulin an oncomarker?

Many patients who have not been explained what the analysis is doing are turning to Internet sources. They are interested in the question: thyroglobulin is raised - what does it mean? Often they find the wrong answer, which leads to a lot of stress. After all, some sources believe that thyroglobulin is an oncomarker and its elevated level indicates a risk of cancer.

But actually it is not. Most often, such an analysis is done after removal of the thyroid gland to control the formation of metastases. After all, thyroglobulin can be produced not only by the gland itself, but also by a cancerous tumor. Therefore, oncomarker, this protein is only in the absence of thyroid. Such patients after successful cancer therapy are tested for thyroglobulin several times a year. This is the only way to determine the relapse of the disease. But the primary tumor in this way can not be determined, since the level of this protein in the presence of a functioning thyroid gland is not associated with the development of the tumor.