Contents
thyroglobulin – uhit is a protein that is the precursor of thyroid hormones in the human body. If the chain of the molecules of this protein is broken into separate components, then the finished hormone thyroxine will be obtained. Separation occurs during its synthesis already before being released into the blood.
The thyroid gland is a place of accumulations of single-layer spherical formations – follicles. Inside them there is a viscous transparent gel, which contains a large amount of thyroglobulin. In medicine, the substance is known as a colloid. The lumen of the follicles serve as a source of protein reserves. When the body needs a hormone, it is captured and removed. The whole process is carried out by thyroid cells – thyrocytes. Thyroglobulin passes through them, as a result of which it breaks up into two parts. One of them is represented by tyrosine molecules, and the other by iodine atoms. Thus, the main thyroid hormone thyroxin is obtained by dividing thyroglobulin into several parts. The finished molecules enter the bloodstream.
Thyroglobulin elevated – why? What is the norm of thyroglobulin?
The content of the hormone in the blood is minimal. Most of it fills the gaps of the follicles. Therefore, the excess of the normative value of thyroglobulin, detected during the analysis, indicates deviations, accompanied by the destruction of thyroid tissue.
This effect may be due to the following phenomena:
Autoimmune inflammation caused by diffuse toxic goiter, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis;
Therapy during which radioactive iodine was used. This causes disturbances in the thyroid gland, as a result of which the content of thyroglobulin in the blood increases;
Purulent inflammation provoked by purulent thyroiditis;
Complications caused by thyroidectomy, resection of the thyroid gland and other types of surgical intervention, accompanied by cell death;
Destruction of gland tissue in the nodes. Ethanol sclerotherapy, laser destruction, radiofrequency ablation, and fine needle biopsy can all cause this complication;
Destruction of thyroid cells. The reason for it is diagnostic scintigraphy of the organ. Its implementation involves the use of iodine-131. The diagnostic effect of the procedure is achieved by gamma radiation obtained due to this substance and accompanied by beta radiation. That it has a negative effect on the thyroid gland.
What to do if thyroglobulin is elevated? What drugs will help in this case? What is the normal hormone level? All these questions are faced by patients, having learned about the increased content of thyroglobulin in the blood. However, this approach to the role of the hormone in diagnosis is incorrect.
With the preservation of the thyroid gland, the determination of the level of thyroglobulin is not carried out. In the presence of an organ, the results of the analysis make it possible to determine its size, quality of work and the presence of inflammation in the tissues.
The amount of a substance released into the blood is determined by the following factors:
The activity of the process of hormone synthesis;
The size of the nodes in the thyroid gland and the volume of the organ itself;
Existing inflammatory processes in the tissues of the organ.
The amount of thyroglobulin produced is directly related to the size of the thyroid gland. If it functions actively, it means that it synthesizes a lot of hormones. In this case, the body’s need for thyroglobulin also increases. When the inflammatory process begins in the tissues of the thyroid gland, the cells are destroyed quickly enough, which causes an active release of the hormone into the blood. This connection proves that all processes depend on each other.
Turning to Internet sources with a question about increasing the level of thyroglobulin, the patient in most cases finds out that this hormone is considered an oncomarker. This means that the risk of a malignant tumor can be determined by the level of this substance in the blood. This information leads to stress in the patient, although the experiences in this case are unreasonable.
Thyroglobulin as a tumor marker is considered only in the absence of the thyroid gland. It is used to determine the possibility of recurrence in patients with cancer.
The appearance of thyroglobulin is possible only if this organ or malignant tumors are present: papillary or follicular. Removal of the thyroid gland due to cancer leads to a minimum level of the hormone. After all, the body does not have the opportunity to synthesize it. After surgery, due to the removal of the thyroid gland or tumors, the analysis is simply ineffective. The data obtained will be incorrect, since the amount of thyroglobulin will tend to zero.
This principle of studying the level of the hormone works if the thyroid gland and malignant tumors have been previously removed. Otherwise, a blood test to determine the level of thyroglobulin is impractical. If we assume that in the presence of a thyroid gland there will be a deviation in the amount of the hormone from the norm, how should one react? What conclusions will be made by the endocrinologist and what will he recommend? Most likely, he will not comment on such a situation and will be absolutely right. In this case, taking an analysis for thyroglobulin makes no sense, because it is impossible to make a diagnosis based on it if there is a thyroid gland in the body, and the level of the hormone does not play any role.
Elevated levels of this substance in the blood do not require treatment. However, patients are still often prescribed an analysis for thyroglobulin. Why is this happening? What guides the experts in this? Some unqualified endocrinologists really continue to use the results for diagnosis, prescribe a course of treatment for hormone deviations from the norm, since they do not have reliable knowledge in this matter. Often the analysis is appointed deliberately. This usually happens in private clinics for commercial purposes, where doctors are trying to increase the number of expensive services provided to the client. If such a situation arises, it is better to refuse to take an unnecessary analysis and, if possible, change the endocrinologist. The appointment of this study to patients with a thyroid gland indicates the incompetence of a specialist.
Thyroglobulin as a tumor marker
At the initial stages of the examination, an analysis to determine the level of this hormone is not performed. But it is regularly performed in patients with papillary and follicular cancer, removed thyroid gland. Each time patients experience stress, waiting for the results of the analysis. After all, an increase in the level of thyroglobulin indicates negative changes and a possible recurrence of oncology. The analysis is carried out several times a year. In this situation, thyroglobulin is a tumor marker. After all, the thyroid gland and tumors in patients do not. In addition, they underwent treatment that involves the use of radioactive iodine, and this is one of the factors that contribute to the destruction of tissues and, as a result, an increase in the release of the hormone into the blood.
Its amount is approximately 2 ng/ml. If anti-cancer therapy is successful, the thyroglobulin level does not exceed this level. In those patients who have not been treated with radioiodine, the rate is 5 ng / ml. The favorable prognosis is determined by the amount of thyroglobulin. The lower its amount in the blood, the more stable the patient’s condition can be considered. However, even successful treatment does not guarantee a zero value of the indicator. For the study, you should choose a reputable clinic with good equipment that allows you to detect the minimum amount of the hormone.
Rules for donating blood for thyroglobulin
To obtain reliable analysis results, the following rules must be observed:
You can donate blood no earlier than 3 months after the end of surgical treatment. Patients who have been treated with radioactive iodine should wait 6 months. After this period, analysis can be carried out. Failure to follow the rule often causes erroneous results that show the possibility of relapse. In fact, the development of a malignant tumor does not occur;
Determining the level of thyroglobulin also involves testing for antibodies to thyroglobulin. This is necessary to determine the suitability of the results for diagnostic purposes. With a large number of antibodies, the thyroglobulin level will be low. This is due to the fact that they bind the protein, as a result of which its minimum amount in the blood is fixed;
It is often necessary to conduct an analysis at a time when thyroxin is being taken, and the level of the TSH hormone is very low. The results in this case are also suitable for diagnosing recurrences of oncological diseases. However, a low level of THT creates a risk of getting a low thyroglobulin level. To avoid this, thyroxine treatment is not carried out for 3 weeks. But an analysis carried out without these measures, based on unstimulated thyroglobulin, is also important for physicians;
If thyroxine is canceled, the result will be more accurate, but then it is necessary to make sure that the patient does not have elevated antibodies to the hormone under study;
Often, doctors pay more attention to the dynamics of the indicator, and not to the absolute value characterizing the level of the protein in question. Its gradual decrease indicates an improvement in the patient’s condition.
And the most important…
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the determination of the level of thyroglobulin is required only in certain situations. Often, the analysis is prescribed along with other types of examinations aimlessly, which leads to the detection of more of this protein in the blood than the standard suggests. As a result, doctors misinterpret the result, misleading the patient about his health. Therefore, it should be remembered that an analysis for thyroglobulin is indicated only for those who have had a malignant tumor and thyroid gland removed.
In all other cases, you need to find out from the doctor what caused such a need, and, if possible, consult with another specialist.