What is Thyroid Disease?
Thyroid disease is typically a malfunction of the thyroid gland, where the immune system destroys or stimulates thyroid tissue, it is almost alwas caused by the autoimmune condition Hashimoto’s Tyroiditis, in which the body’s immune system reacts against the thyroid gland gradually making it inactive and causing hypothyroidism, or by Graves disease where the production of thyroid hormones os stimulated causing hyprerthyroidism.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism.
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Sensitivity to cold
- Dry brittle hair
- Constipation
- Muscle cramps
- Depression
- Goiter – enlargement of the thyroid gland.
Symptoms of Hyperthyrodism.
- Rapid weight loss
- Increased appetite
- Palpertations
- High blood pressure
- Sweating
- Hand tremors
- Goiter – enlargement of the thyroid gland
- Muscle weakness
- Eye problems – Inflammation, swelling of tissue surrounding the eye, bulging of the eye.
Risk factors
- Female
- Aged 50 or older
- Previous therapy for hyperthyroidism
- Long-term use of drugs affecting thyroid function
- Hypercholesterolemia
- Depression
- Family history of thyroid disease
- Personal or family history of other autoimmune disease.
Testing for Thyroid Disease.
Autoimmune disease of the thyroid is detected by testing for antibodies in the blood that attack the thyroid gland. The CNS Autoantibody Thyroid test uses ELISA technology to measure autoantibodies to human thyroid peroxidase (TPO).
Thyroid peroxidase is an important enzyme involved in the multiple steps of thyroid hormone synthesis. Autoantibodies to TPO are associated with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. The presence of
anti-TPO autoantibodies uneqivocally confirms autoimmune thyroiditis and they are fequently the only indication of underlying disease. The detectors of anti -TPO autoantibodies is evidence against goiter or hyperthyroidism of a non-autoimmune nature.
Sample requirements and test turnaround.
Only a pin-prick blood sample is required. Results are available in 10 working days.