Interpretation

The sensitivity and specificity of an elevated thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) test for Graves disease (GD) diagnosis depends on whether patients have disease treated with antithyroid drugs or clinically active, untreated disease. Based on a study that included specimens from 436 apparently healthy individuals, 210 patients with thyroid diseases without diagnosis of GD, and 102 patients with untreated GD, a decision limit of 1.75 IU/L showed a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 99% for detection of GD.(1) In healthy individuals and in patients with thyroid disease without diagnosis of GD, the upper limit of antithyrotropin receptor values are 1.22 IU/L and 1.58 IU/L, respectively (97.5th percentiles). A Mayo study of 115 patients, including 42 patients with GD, showed a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 97% for detection of GD at a decision limit of 1.75 IU/L.

Assessment of TRAb status is particularly relevant in women who have undergone thyroid ablative therapy or are on active antithyroid treatment and, therefore, no longer display biochemical or clinical evidence of thyrotoxicosis. Significant neonatal thyrotoxicosis is likely if a pregnant woman with a history of GD has TRAb concentrations of more than 3.25 IU/L during the last trimester, regardless of her clinical remission status. Lesser elevations are only occasionally associated with neonatal thyrotoxicosis.

Gestational thyrotoxicosis, which is believed to be due to a combination of human chorionic gonadotropin cross-reactivity on the thyrotropin receptor and transient changes in thyroid hormone protein binding, is only very rarely associated with an elevated TRAb test. Finding an elevated test result in this setting usually suggests underlying GD.

An elevated TRAb test at the conclusion of a course of antithyroid drug treatment is highly predictive of relapse of GD. However, the converse, a normal TRAb test, is not predictive of prolonged remission.