Why do I need to examine TSH with HAMA for hashimoto's thyroiditis?

Hello

Let me briefly explain to you how Hashimoto's thyroiditis works. Basically what happens in Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the thyroid is attacked by certain substances known as antibodies which are produced by the body. This is a diseased state because the body is producing antibodies against its own antigens or proteins. So these antibodies go and attack the thyroid specifically. Hence they can be called as autoantibodies to the thyroid. In Hashimoto's when these thyroid antibodies attack the thyroid gland basically what they do is destroy the walls of the thyroid. The thyroid hormone that is stored inside these walls is released into the circulation. Then the cells of the thyroid are destroyed so the hormone production decreases or stops eventually.

So in thyroiditis specially Hashimoto's two phases are seen; the initial one which is because of the release of thyroid hormone into the circulation you have hyperthyroidism and then after the thyroid gland is completely destroyed there is no production of the hormone leading to hypothyroidism. Human anti mouse antibodies are basically one of the antibodies that can attack the thyroid gland in Hashimoto's. In your position she wanted to check for the presence of these antibodies initially by supplementation of the thyroid hormone.

Let me know if you have any further queries.