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The thyroglobulin – what is it?

The thyroglobulin - eit is a protein that is a precursor of thyroid hormones in the human body. If the chain of molecules of the protein to be split into separate components, we get ready the hormone thyroxine. Separation takes place in the course of its synthesis before release into the blood.

The thyroid gland is the site of clusters of single-layer spherical formations of follicles. Inside of them is a viscous transparent gel, which is present in large quantities the thyroglobulin. In medicine, a substance known as a colloid. The lumens of the follicles are the source of protein reserves. When the body there is a need to hormone, it is the capture and recovery. Is that the whole process of the cells of the thyroid gland – the thyroid cells. The thyroglobulin is passed through them, causing splits in two. One of them is represented by molecules of tyrosine and iodine atoms. Thus, the main thyroid hormone thyroxine is obtained through division into several parts of thyroglobulin. Ready-made molecules are released into the bloodstream.


The thyroglobulin is elevated – why? What is normal thyroglobulin?

The blood levels of the hormone is minimal. Most of it fills the interstices of the follicles. Exceeding the standard value of thyroglobulin detected during the analysis indicates a deviation, accompanied by the destruction of thyroid tissue.

This effect may be caused by the following phenomena:

  • Autoimmune inflammation caused by diffuse toxic goiter, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis;
  • Therapy, during which they used radioactive iodine. This causes disturbances in the thyroid gland, causing increased blood levels of thyroglobulin;
  • Suppurative inflammation, provoked by purulent thyroiditis;
  • The complications of thyroidectomy performed, resection of the thyroid gland and other types of surgery, accompanied by cell death;
  • Destruction of the tissue glands at the nodes. Ethanol sclerotherapy, laser destruction, radiofrequency ablation and fine needle biopsy can cause this complications;
  • Destruction of thyroid cells. The reason it becomes diagnostic scintigraphy body. Its implementation involves the use of iodine-131. Diagnostic effect is achieved by gamma radiationderived from this substance, and accompanied by beta radiation. It has a negative impact on the thyroid gland.

What to do if elevated thyroglobulin? What drugs will help in this case? How normal must be hormone? With all these issues faced by patients, learning about elevated levels of thyroglobulin in the blood. However, this approach to the role of the hormone in the diagnosis is incorrect.

While maintaining the thyroid gland determine the level of thyroglobulin is not carried out. In the presence of on the results of the analysis allow to determine its size, quality of work and the presence of inflammation in tissues.

The number of substances emitted into the blood, is determined by the following factors:

  • The activity of the process of synthesis of hormones;
  • The size of the nodes in the thyroid gland and the volume of the body;
  • Existing inflammatory processes in the tissues of the body.

The amount of produced thyroglobulin is in direct proportion to the size of the thyroid gland. If it operates actively, it means that synthesizes many hormones. In this case, the body's need for thyroglobulin also increased. When the tissues of the thyroid gland starts the inflammatory process, cells are destroyed quickly enough, which leads to an active release of the hormone in the blood. Such a connection proves that all processes are independent from each other.

Turning to the Internet sources with a question about raising the level of thyroglobulin, the patient in most cases finds out that this hormone is considered to be a tumor marker. So, the risk of a malignant tumor can be determined by the level of the substance in the blood. These data lead to stress in the patient, although the experiences in this case for a reason.

The thyroglobulin as a tumor marker is considered only in the absence of the thyroid gland. It can determine the possibility of recurrence in patients with cancer.

The appearance of thyroglobulin is only possible subject to the availability of this body or of malignant tumors: papillary or follicular. Removal of the thyroid gland due to cancer leads to minimum levels of the hormone. Because the body does not remain possibilities for its synthesis. After surgery, due to the removal of the thyroid gland or tumors, to analyze just ineffective. The obtained data will be valid because the amount of thyroglobulin will tend to zero.

The principle of the test the hormone level works if the thyroid gland and malignant tumors were previously removed. Otherwiseanalysis of blood to determine the level of thyroglobulin is impractical. If we assume that in the presence of the thyroid will occur a deviation amount of the hormone from the norm, how should I react? What conclusions will be made by a consultant endocrinologist and that he would recommend? Most likely, he would not comment on this situation, and will be absolutely right. In this case, the delivery of the analysis on the thyroglobulin is devoid of any meaning, because to make the diagnosis based on it in the presence in the body of the thyroid gland is impossible, and the level of the hormone it does not play any role.

Elevated levels of this substance in the blood is not require treatment. However, patients are still often assigned to the analysis on the thyroglobulin. Why is this happening? What motivates the experts? Some unskilled endocrinologists do continue to use the results to diagnose, prescribe for the treatment of hormone deviation from the norm, as they do not have reliable knowledge in the matter. Often the analysis is assigned deliberately. This usually happens in private clinics for commercial purposes, where doctors are trying to increase the amount provided to the client costly services. When this situation occurs it is better to refuse the delivery of unnecessary analysis and the ability to change the endocrinologist. The purpose of this study, the patients with the thyroid gland evidence of the incompetence of the specialist.

The thyroglobulin as a tumor marker

In the initial stages of the survey analysis to determine the level of this hormone is not performed. But he is routinely performed in patients with papillary and follicular cancer, removed thyroid. Every time patients experience stress waiting for the results of the analysis. After raising the level of thyroglobulin indicates negative changes and possible recurrence of the cancer. Analyze necessary several times a year. In this situation, the thyroglobulin is a tumor marker. Because the thyroid gland and tumors in patients is not. In addition, they were treated, which involves the use of radioactive iodine, and this is one of the factors contributing to tissue destruction and, consequently, increased release of the hormone in the blood.

The amount is approximately 2 ng/ml. If anticancer therapy is successful, the level of thyroglobulin does not exceed this level. In those patients who were not treated with radio-iodine, the rate equal to 5 ng/ml.A favorable prognosis is determined by the amount of thyroglobulin. Less than the amount in the blood, the patient's condition can be considered more stable. However, even successful treatment does not guarantee a null-value indicator. For the study, you should choose a proven clinic with good equipment, which allows to identify the minimum number of hormone.


Rules of blood thyroglobulin

To obtain reliable analysis results, you must observe the following rules:

  • To donate blood until 3 months after the end of surgery. Patients who have undergone treatment with radioactive iodine, you must wait 6 months. At the expiration of this period, analysis can be done. Failure to comply with the rules often becomes the cause of erroneous results that show the possibility of recurrence. In fact, the development of a malignant tumor does not occur;
  • Determine the level of thyroglobulin involves also the analysis on antibodies to thyroglobulin. It is necessary to determine the suitability of the results for diagnostic purposes. With a large number of antibodies, the thyroglobulin levels will be low. This is because they bind to the protein, resulting in fiksiruesh minimum quantity in the blood;
  • Frequent analysis necessary in a time when it is receiving thyroxine, and the level of the hormone TSH is very low. The results in this case also suitable for the diagnosis of recurrence of cancer. However, the low level TGT creates the risk of receiving a low rate of thyroglobulin. To avoid this, treatment with thyroxine is not conducted within 3 weeks. However, the analyses conducted without these measures, based on restimulating thyroglobulin is also important for physicians;
  • When you cancel a thyroxine, the result will be more accurate, but then you must ensure that the patient has no elevated antibodies to the tested hormone;
  • Often, doctors are paying more attention to the dynamics of the indicator rather than the absolute value characterizing the level of the studied protein. A gradual decrease indicates an improvement of the patient's condition.

And most important...

In conclusion, it should be noted that the determination of the level of thyroglobulin is required only in certain situations. Often the analysis is assigned, along with other types of surveys aimlessly, which leads to detection in the blood a larger amount of the protein than the norm. In the end, the doctors incorrectly interpretiruya result, deceivingthe patient regarding his health. Therefore, it should be remembered that the analysis of thyroglobulin shown only to those who have removed a malignant tumor and the thyroid gland.

In all other cases, you need to find out from the doctor what caused this need, and to consult with another specialist.