Thyroid Research Thyroid Research Archive Thyroid Cancer

Serum antithyroglobulin antibodies are not associated with poor outcome in patients with thyroid carcinoma

(November 2005)

The background of the study. Some patients with thyroid carcinoma have high serum antithyroglobulin (anti-Tg) antibody concentrations, and in some studies the presence of the antibodies has been associated with persistent or recurrent carcinoma. In this study, serum anti-Tg antibodies were measured repeatedly in patients with thyroid carcinoma, and the results correlated with patient outcome.

How the study was done. The study subjects were 112 patients with thyroid carcinoma. Serum anti-Tg antibodies were measured soon after thyroidectomy, when the patients were treated with radioactive iodine (I-131). The antibodies were subsequently measured at 6-month intervals while the patients were taking thyroxine, and thyroid ultrasonography and other imaging studies were done if indicated. The average duration of follow-up was 33 months.

The results of the study. Serum anti-Tg antibodies were detected initially in 29 percent of the patients, and in 31 percent of the patients soon thereafter. Subsequently, the serum anti-Tg antibody concentrations gradually decreased in all the patients, and the antibodies were undetectable in approximately 50 percent at 1 to 1.5 years and 67 percent at 3 to 3.5 years. At 3 years, 92 percent of the patients were well, 1 percent had stable persistent tumor, and 7 percent had recurrent or progressive tumor. There was no correlation between the initial serum anti-Tg antibody value or the presence of serum anti-Tg antibodies at 15 to 18 months and the course of the disease.

The conclusions of the study. Serum anti-Tg antibodies are present at the time of diagnosis in a substantial number of patients with thyroid carcinoma. The antibodies disappear gradually thereafter, but their persistence is not associated with persistent or recurrent carcinoma in these patients.

The original article. Gorges R, Maniecki M, Jentzen W, Sheu SN, Mann K, Bockisch A, Janssen OE. Development and clinical impact of thyroglobulin antibodies in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma during the first 3 years after thyroidectomy. Eur J Endocrinol 2005;153:49-55.