Frontiers in Endocrinology (Jun 2024)
The interference of anti-TSH autoantibody on clinical TSH detection
Abstract
ObjectiveIt is well known that macro-thyroid-stimulating hormone (macro-TSH) could interfere with the detection of TSH. The anti-TSH autoantibody is an essential component of macro-TSH. However, the epidemiological characteristics and the clinical interference of the anti-TSH autoantibody are unclear.MethodsIn this study, the radioimmunoprecipitation technique was used to detect the anti-TSH autoantibody. Platforms with different detection mechanisms were applied to measure the TSH in patients with the anti-TSH autoantibody. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation was used to determine the immunoassay interference.ResultsThe prevalence of the anti-TSH autoantibody in patients with mild subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and autoimmune thyroiditis, but normal thyroid function, was 4.78%. All 10 patients with anti-TSH antibodies had autoimmune diseases, with five of them having significant clinical test interference.ConclusionThe appearance of the anti-TSH antibody is not associated with thyroid autoantibodies. The presence of the anti-TSH autoantibody can interfere with the detection of TSH and can affect clinical diagnosis and treatment.
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