[Clinical validity of anti-thyroperoxidase antibody and anti-thyroglobulin antibody].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical validity of anti-thyroperoxidase antibody (anti-TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (anti-TgAb).

METHOD: Serum levels of anti-TPOAb and anti-TgAb were assayed using chemiluminescence immunoassay in 434 subjects, including 51 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 58 with Graves' disease, 68 with nodular goiter, 56 with thyroid adenoma and carcinoma, 56 with subacute thyroiditis, 65 with euthyroid non-thyroid endocrine disease, 35 with euthyroid non-thyroid autoimmune diseases, and 45 euthyroid controls.

RESULTS: The highest level and most positive results of serum anti-TgAb and anti-TPOAb were observed in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (median 373 and 6 974 U/ml, positive rate 84.3% and 86.3%), followed by patients with Graves' disease (median 84 and 1 369 U/ml, positive rate 44.8% and 72.4%). Serum anti-TgAb and anti-TPOAb were also more common in patients with subacute thyroiditis and other autoimmune diseases than in the controls.

CONCLUSION: The assay of serum anti-TPOAb and anti-TgAb by chemiluminescence immunoassy are useful in the differential diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease.