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Behavior of serum thyroglobulin in relation to thyroid function under low-thyrotropin conditions in general practice
Yosuke Sazumi1, Yoshiaki Soejima1, Yuki Otsuka1
1Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
Frontiers in Endocrinology
|June 1, 2026
Summary
Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels are higher in patients with low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), particularly those with autoimmune hyperthyroidism. Elevated Tg may indicate T3 predominance and aid in characterizing thyroid disease pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Biochemistry
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) is a key biomarker for thyroid diseases, but its role in abnormal thyroid function is not fully understood.
- Thyroid hormones, including free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3), are crucial for metabolic regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum Tg levels and thyroid function status.
- To explore the clinical significance of Tg in patients with varying thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous measurement of serum Tg, FT4, and FT3 in 292 patients.
- Classification of patients into high-TSH, normal-TSH, and low-TSH groups based on TSH levels.
- Correlation analyses including TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAb) and thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAb) status.
Main Results:
- The low-TSH group showed significantly higher serum Tg levels compared to normal-TSH and high-TSH groups.
- Elevated Tg levels in the low-TSH group were associated with positive TRAb or TSAb status.
- Tg levels positively correlated with the FT3/FT4 ratio in the low-TSH group, especially in patients with autoimmune hyperthyroidism.
Conclusions:
- Serum Tg levels may reflect T3 predominance in autoimmune hyperthyroidism.
- Tg measurements could offer clinical utility in understanding the pathophysiology of thyroid diseases.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the role of Tg in various thyroid conditions.
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