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.
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