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What is Thyroiditis test?
Thyroiditis profile is a group of tests done to diagnose thyroiditis. It includes total (T3, T4 and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) tests.
Thyroiditis refers to the inflammation of the thyroid gland. This condition may cause either over- or under-production of the thyroid hormones.
The thyroid gland is present in the lower neck. It is a butterfly-shaped gland and produces hormones that help in metabolism.
Some of the possible causes of thyroiditis include infections or the side effects of medications or radiation. Thyroiditis may also be genetic or seen as an autoimmune disorder, a condition in which the body attacks itself.
Here are the different types of thyroiditis:
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition that affects women more than men. It occurs when your immune system starts damaging your thyroid cells. This condition leads to hypothyroidism, and thyroid replacement therapy is generally required for treatment.
- Silent thyroiditis: Silent thyroiditis is the second commonest form of thyroiditis. It is also an autoimmune disease that occurs due to the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies in your body.
- Post-partum thyroiditis: Post-partum thyroiditis is a fairly uncommon autoimmune condition that may appear in women shortly after childbirth.
- Drug-induced thyroiditis: Certain drugs such as lithium, cytokines, interferons and amiodarone may cause this type of thyroiditis in a small number of people.
- Radiation-induced thyroiditis: This type of thyroiditis occurs due to the radiation used for the treatment of cancer or radioactive iodine that is used to treat hyperthyroidism.
- Acute thyroiditis or suppurative thyroiditis: It is a rare condition that is caused by bacteria or infectious organisms.
- Subacute thyroiditis or de Quervain’s thyroiditis: A painful condition that is usually shows up a few weeks after a viral infection.
Thyroiditis can be diagnosed by a series of blood tests that detect the amount of thyroid hormone, TSH and antibodies present in the body as mentioned below:
- T3 (triiodothyronine) test: This test checks for the levels of T3 in your blood. T3 is present in the free (not attached to anything) and bound (attached to a protein) forms. The total T3 levels include both bound and free T3.
- T4 (thyroxine) test: It is a blood test that measures the T4 levels in your body. Just like T3, T4 is present in bound and free forms. It is produced by the thyroid gland along with T3. T4 total includes free and bound T4. T4 works along with T3 to control metabolism and processes such as body temperature, brain development, heart functioning and breathing.
- TSH test: The TSH test checks for the levels of Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland, which is present at the base of the brain. This hormone is responsible for controlling the levels of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) in the body. If the thyroid gland produces too much of the thyroid hormone, the pituitary gland decreases the amount of TSH to lower the levels of thyroid hormones. When the thyroid hormones are too low, the pituitary produces more TSH, which stimulates the thyroid gland to increase the production of thyroid hormones.
- Anti-TPO antibody test: Anti-TPO antibody test checks for the levels of antibodies against the enzyme thyroid peroxidase. Thyroid peroxidase helps in producing T3 and T4 in the thyroid gland. A lack of thyroid peroxidase leads to hypothyroidism.
- Anti-Tg antibody test: Anti-Tg antibody test is a blood test that checks for the levels of antibodies produced against a protein made by the thyroid gland known as thyroglobulin. Thyroglobulin plays an important role in the production and storage of thyroid hormones.
