? for re: 2% magic number :-)

[Guest guest]

Hey ,

I've seen this 2% number (as far as if it's higher than that you are at

greater risk for relapsing) mentioned in previous posts and can't quite figure

out

what you are supposed to be measuring it against. Can you help me figure this

out? 2% of what? For instance, on the last labs I have results for, they did

the TSI test and here's what the lab sheet said:

In Range

90 % baseline Reference Range:

125 or less

Now, I do fall below the 125......which I guess is good, but how does this

number relate to the magical 2% number I guess I need to acheive? :-) Is the in

range number supposed to be 2% to be free of the risk of your Graves

returning? Or is there some other number I'm not aware of that you are supposed

to

figure out what your percentage range is compared to it, and you calculate

whether

you are in the 2% area or not?

Sorry to be giving you math problems this late in the day, but since I saw

this topic come up again and it's been niggling at me for awhile as to what this

means, I thought I'd strike while the iron is hot.

Thanks for any light you can shed on my confusion. Have a wonderful night!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Hmmm... I will attempt to answer, but I probably won't be able to address

everything, as I really don't know the specifics. I've repeatedly read that

TSI should be below 2% if one who has Graves' and is on ATDs is considered

to be truly in remission and not at high risk for relapse. At that point, I

think it would be safe to gradually taper off meds (though I wonder if it

is advisable to keep on the low dose of ATD and re-test TSI in 3 months to

make sure that the antibodies are gone).

From this article by Elaine , the magic number is <2% activity:

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/9630/98200

I really don't know what it means, but I do know that being less than 130%

(or 125%) may be " normal " but not acceptable for those with Graves' who are

tapering off ATDs. That is, one would most likely relapse unless the TSI

antibodies are GONE. Be aware that TSI can be measured as an index, not

just as a percentage. Since I am more familiar with the percentage form, I

would ask for that one to be done, but that's me.

Looks like your TSI is 90%. But you want it below 2%. There is no

calculating you have to do. But if/when you do get a TSI result of <2% (you

can test every 3 months), then you may want to get other antibody tests,

such as TBII (blocking antibodies). But this is where I start to get fuzzy...

At 09:12 PM 8/5/2003, you wrote:

>Hey ,

>

>I've seen this 2% number (as far as if it's higher than that you are at

>greater risk for relapsing) mentioned in previous posts and can't quite

>figure out

>what you are supposed to be measuring it against. Can you help me figure this

>out? 2% of what?