Antibodies are special proteins. They work for the immune system, recognizing everything alien that has entered our body. Having discovered, they destroy both it and the toxins secreted by it. Antibodies are subject to strict rules. Even small deviations cause their aggression. They begin to perceive healthy tissues and other elements of their own system as enemies, destroy them and destroy them. This is the mechanism of their action in relation to the thyroid enzyme thyroid peroxidase (TPO). Antibodies to thyroperoxidase are elevated, what does this mean? Firstly, the amount of this important enzyme decreases, and secondly, thyroid cells are destroyed. What is this pathology connected with and what does it lead to?
Causes and consequences
I immediately want to say that it is bad only when antibodies to thyroperoxidase are elevated, and this condition progresses. Normally, one in ten of us has these antibodies. Pathology in women is detected 20 times more often than in men. Among the causes of its occurrence, the following are most likely:
- radiation;
- toxins;
- various viral infections;
- large doses of iodine or its acute shortage;
- some chronic diseases (diabetes, tonsillitis, sinusitis, anemia and others);
- heredity;
- injuries and diseases of the thyroid gland;
- pregnancy (mainly after delivery, antibodies return to normal without treatment).
Antibodies to thyroid peroxidase are elevated, what does this mean for health? Such a pathology can lead to autoimmune thyroiditis ( lymphocytic thyroiditis or Hashimoto), which, in turn, is the cause of hypothyroidism.
What are the terrible consequences
Sometimes hypothyroidism is congenital. If it is detected in the first couple of weeks of a baby's life, it can be cured. If time is missed, the child will develop mental retardation.
Acquired hypothyroidism in the early stages has no particular symptoms. The TPO enzyme iodinates thyroglobulin. It is also important for the respiration of body cells. Antibodies to thyroperoxidase are elevated, what does this mean for a human condition? This means that the processes in the cells of the organs and, as a result, the work of the organs themselves are disrupted. Violations can relate to changes in the appearance of a person (brittleness and hair loss, dry skin, voice changes, hearing loss, swelling). Also affects the nervous system, cardiovascular, digestive, reproductive, musculoskeletal.
Symptoms can be very different. Unfortunately, one hundred percent treatment of this pathology does not exist. There is only supportive therapy. Therefore, it is important to identify in time that antibodies to thyroperoxidase are elevated. What does this mean, and who needs to do this analysis?
Criteria for testing for the presence of antibodies to TPO
Since thyroid peroxidase is the main component of microsomes, the analysis for antibodies to thyroperoxidase is almost identical to the analysis for antibodies to microsomal thyroperoxidase. They are increased if they exceed the range of reference values (0-9 IU / ml). This analysis is assigned to the following categories of patients:
- with suspected hypothyroidism or its presence;
- with thyroid problems (increase or decrease);
- taking lithium and interferon preparations ;
- pregnant women who have an increased content of TSH (thyrotropin).
Positive results of this analysis indicate the possibility of one of the diseases of the thyroid gland. However, there are a number of cases when a high number of antibodies was observed in healthy people who did not have any problems with the thyroid gland. A positive test for anti-TPO antibodies allows these patients to be monitored without treatment.