Anti-TPO and anti-TSHR antibodies in combination with T3, T4, and TSH exhibited a diagnostic curve for Hashimoto patients

Abstract Background Hashimoto ’ s thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disease that leads to the destruction of thyroid cells through cellular and antibody-mediated immune responses. Currently, no single test definitively diagnoses HT. Hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland fails to produce sufficient triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). This research aims to design a diagnostic curve to diagnose Hashimoto ’ s disease and distinguish it from hypothyroidism based on the percentages of anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and anti-TSH receptor (anti-TSHR), T3, T4, and TSH. Methods A total of 180 participants were categorized into three groups: HT ( n = 60), hypothyroidism ( n = 60), and control ( n = 60). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure T3, T4, TSH, anti-TPO, and anti-TSHR levels, while PCR technology was employed to analyze anti-TPO gene expression. Clinical data, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and levothyroxine (LT4) treatment doses, were assessed across groups. Results There were no significant differences in age, gender, or LT4 dosage among the groups. However, BMI was significantly higher in the HT and hypothyroidism groups compared to the control group. Statistically significant differences ( P < 0.001) were observed in T3, T4, TSH, anti-TPO, and anti-TSHR levels across the study groups. Notably, anti-TPO gene expression was significantly elevated in HT patients, with a fold change of 274.4, demonstrating its potential as a diagnostic marker. The diagnostic curve approach successfully differentiated HT from hypothyroidism based on the percentage distributions of the five measured parameters (10%, 17%, 45%, 66%, and 81% for HT patients). Conclusions Anti-TPO gene expression demonstrated 100% specificity and 89.5% sensitivity in diagnosing HT, reinforcing its role as a strong biomarker for HT detection. This method offers a simplified, accurate, and clinically applicable approach for diagnosing autoimmune thyroid disorders.