Antibodies to TPO are increased - what does this mean?

The analysis for antibodies to thyroid peroxidase is today considered to be one of the most popular. Doctors appoint it to their patients more and more often. Understanding what this indicator means and why antibodies to TPO increase, it is much calmer when you receive test results.

To whom is the analysis for antibodies to TPO?

This analysis is more reliable than many other studies is able to determine whether the body develops an autoimmune disease or not. Speaking more clearly, the indicator of antTPO allows to reveal, how aggressively the immune system behaves in relation to an organism. TPO is responsible for the formation of active iodine, which can iodine thyroglobulin. And antibodies block the substance, which leads to a decrease in the secretion of thyroid hormones.

Send all the patients for the whole blood test for antibodies to TPO to find out if they are not raised, it's wrong. The study is shown only under certain conditions:

1. Newborn. They are tested on anti-TPO, if these antibodies are found in the mother's body, or with postpartum thyroiditis.
2. Patients with an enlarged thyroid gland.
3. Persons receiving lithium and interferon.
4. People with hypothyroidism. Research is needed in order to find out the cause of the disease.
5. With hereditary predisposition. If one of the relatives had problems due to elevated antibodies to TPO, the patient automatically falls into a risk group and needs regular examinations.
6. After a miscarriage. Sometimes miscarriages or unplanned premature births occur just because the immune system produces specific antibodies.

What does the increased level of antibodies to TPO indicate?

The appearance of antibodies to TPO mainly indicates that the cells of the thyroid gland are gradually destroyed, and an insufficient amount of the necessary enzyme is produced in the body. There are other explanations:

1. Slight increase in antibodies to TPO can occur with autoimmune abnormalities: rheumatoid arthritis , diabetes mellitus, systemic vasculitis, and lupus erythematosus.
2. If antibodies to TPO are increased in pregnant women, this means that the child can develop hyperthyroidism with a probability of almost 100%.
3. In patients with antibodies to TPO increased by 10 times, diffuse toxic goiter or Hashimoto's thyroiditis is more likely to be diagnosed.
4. The increased amount of antibodies to TPO in the analysis made after the passed course of therapy indicates the ineffectiveness of the chosen method of treatment.

Sometimes antibodies to TPO can increase and for no apparent reason. It can happen mainly in the female body, and is explained, as a rule, by age-related changes. In this case, the phenomenon is regarded as quite normal. But later the patient is still recommended for some time to observe the specialist.

Treatment of elevated antibodies to TPO

Determine that the indicator has increased, the main thing in time. The problem is that you can not cure elevated antibodies to TPO. This indicator can be changed only if something is done about the disease that caused it to increase. If no measures are taken, the ailment can develop without hindrance, and the number of specific antibodies increases.

The initial stage of treatment is a complete examination to determine the root cause of an increase in the number of antibodies to TPO. Very many doctors turn to hormone replacement therapy. The use of this method is advisable only when the cause of the problem is in the thyroid gland.