[Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies]

Measurement of anti-thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb) is used for diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease(AITD). Approximately 82-100% of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 60-70% of patients with Graves' disease are TgAb positive using high sensitive radioimmunoassay. In patients with subacute thyroiditis(SAT), TgAb is usually negative. Therefore, measurement of TgAb is useful to diagnose painless thyroiditis or acute worsening of Hashimoto's thyroiditis from SAT. To predict the post-partum thyroid dysfunction and thyroid dysfunction after interferon treatment, TgAb measurement is important, since patients with positive TgAb are apt to progress thyroid dysfunction.