Thyroid peroxidase is an enzyme involved in the process of producing thyroid hormones and is associated with the production of an active form of iodine. Antibodies to thyroid peroxidase are compounds that are produced by the immune system in various malfunctions of its functioning, perceiving the body cells as foreign.
Analysis for antibodies to thyroid peroxidase
The blood test for the content of antibodies to thyroid peroxidase is a highly accurate method of diagnosing autoimmune thyroid diseases. Assign such an analysis if you suspect an autoimmune disease or to determine the cause of the detected hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Also, it can be recommended with a steady increase in the gland or its chronic inflammation. With the threat of miscarriage and female infertility, this study reveals provoking factors.
The reasons that antibodies to thyroid peroxidase are increased
The norm of antibodies to thyroid peroxidase depends on the method used, as well as the units of measurement, therefore, in different institutions the limits of normal values may differ. If the result is significantly higher than the norm, then the patient is likely to have the following diseases:
- diffuse or nodal toxic goiter;
- chronic Hashimoto's thyroiditis;
- postpartum dysfunction of the thyroid gland.
- idiopathic form of hypothyroidism;
- autoimmune thyroiditis .
Also, the excess of the norm of the substances under consideration can be observed in autoimmune diseases of other organs, for example:
- diabetes;
- rheumatoid arthritis ;
- Libmann-Sachs disease;
- pernicious anemia;
- Sjogren's syndrome.
Sometimes antibodies to thyroid peroxidase are elevated in healthy people for unclear reasons. Therefore, this analysis is never considered separately, but is compared with the results of analyzes for thyroid and thyroid-stimulating hormones. At the same time,
What if the antibodies to thyroid peroxidase are increased?
If it is found that antibodies to thyroid peroxidase have been raised in the patient's blood, treatment is recommended in accordance with the diagnosis, when other analyzes and examinations are taken into account. In some cases, hormone therapy is prescribed, taking iodine or other medications. And sometimes only patient monitoring and regular analysis are required.