Thyroid stimulating hormone elevation without antithyroid antibody elevation in nursing home patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between antithyroid antibody elevation and thyrotropin (TSH) elevation.


METHODS
Large state veterans home.


METHODS
Seven hundred seventy-six residents were screened for TSH elevation. Seventy-two residents with TSH elevation and no history of thyroid disease or recent iodine exposure later had determinations of antithyroglobulin and antimicrosomal antibodies. The relationship between TSH levels and antibody titers was explored.


RESULTS
Eleven percent of the residents had TSH elevation. Thirty-two percent of men and 64% of women with TSH elevation had elevation of antithyroid antibodies. Those residents with the highest antithyroid antibody titers had significantly greater TSH elevation.


CONCLUSIONS
Previous investigators have found similar percentages of individuals with TSH elevation who lack antithyroid antibody elevation. We hypothesize that TSH elevation without elevated antibody titers may be the result of a previously described involutional histologic lesion of the thyroid.
University of Wisconsin, Madison.
P J
PJ
Drinka
W E
WE
Nolten
S
S
Voeks
E
E
Langer
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012016:Reference Values; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D014728:Veterans; D014922:Wisconsin
D000906:Antibodies; D013972:Thyrotropin