To date, the problem of thyroid pathology throughout the world does not lose its relevance. Lack of iodine in the body is observed in 40% of the adult population and 50% of children. This is due not only to the hereditary factor, but also to the negative impact of the environment. At the same time, inorganic iodine is intended for the synthesis of such hormones as T3 and T4, on which the amount of production of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) by the pituitary gland, which controls the activity of the thyroid gland, depends.
It should be said that if the thyroid gland does not adequately perform its functions, certain diseases (autoimmune) develop in the body. Thus, the detection of antibodies against TPO during the study of antibodies may indicate an aggressive state of immunity in relation to the entire body. That is why with various kinds of thyroid diseases, a blood test is prescribed for the level of TSH and the presence of antibodies to AT TPO. If the latter are still observed, then they talk about autoimmune pathology.
AT TPO is an enzyme that takes part in the synthesis of thyroid hormones and in the process of hormone iodination. It is part of the thyroid antigen.
The reason for the analysis can be the diagnosis of diseases such as goiter, hypo and hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease, thyroidide, and swelling of the legs. Also, an analysis is prescribed during pregnancy to determine the risk of developing thyroiditis after childbirth (10% of women have this disease).
It should be noted that AT TPO, the norm of which in an adult is 5.6 U / ml, provides the formation of active iodine in the body. Antibodies to this enzyme prevent its activity, therefore, the secretion of the hormones T4 and T3 decreases. But not in all cases, thyroid peroxidase indicates the presence of an autoimmune process.
This study is indispensable in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases. The appearance of violations in her work is the first signal of the development of hypothyroidism. If highly sensitive diagnostic methods are used for the diagnosis of ATT, then this disease is found in 94% of patients, Graves' disease - in 84%, non-autoimmune thyroid disease - in 15% of people. Low levels of the enzyme are often found in healthy people, so the question of the development of various diseases in this case is not well understood.
It should be noted that in the case when the AT TPO is increased, this indicates a process such as hypothyroidism. This kind of violation appears as a result of the slowing down of TPO activity by antibodies, the rate of iodine oxidation, and, therefore, the adoption of its active form. In this case, thyroid hormones are not synthesized.
The study goes through several stages. A person takes blood, which determines the level of TSH and T4. In the case of normal T4 and low TSH, a T3 study is performed. In the latter case, a complete examination for antibodies AT TPO is necessary.
Thus, suspicions of goiter, hypothyroidism and AIT can serve as indications for the study. But it should be remembered that the absence of antibodies to thyroid peroxidase does not exclude the possibility of the presence of AIT in the body. The detection of this enzyme in the blood does not give one hundred percent confidence in the presence of an autoimmune disease, since in most cases, AT TPO is present in completely healthy people.
From all this it follows that when this enzyme is detected, a comprehensive examination should be carried out in order to exclude the risk of developing AIT.
Thus, regardless of the situation, thyroid peroxidase is a rather sensitive test of autoimmune abnormalities in the thyroid gland, therefore, such studies are used in almost every medical institution.