Antibodies to thyroid peroxidase increased. What does this mean, what is caused and how dangerous?

Antibodies are special proteins. They work for the immune system, recognizing all the alien that has got into our body. Discovering, they destroy it, and the toxins that are released to them. There are antibodies according 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 with respect to the thyroid peroxidase enzyme (TPO). Antibodies to thyroid peroxidase increased, what does it mean? First, the amount of this important enzyme is reduced, and secondly, thyroid cells are destroyed. What is the cause of this pathology, and what does it lead to?

Causes and consequences

Just want to say that it's bad only whenantibodies to thyroid peroxidase are increased, and this condition progresses. In normal these antibodies are every tenth of us. Pathology in women is detected 20 times more often than in men. Among the reasons for its occurrence, the following are most likely:

- radiation;

- toxins;

- various viral infections;

- large doses of iodine or an acute shortage of iodine;

- Some chronic diseases (diabetes, tonsillitis, sinusitis, anemia and others);

- heredity;

- injuries and diseases of the thyroid gland;

- Pregnancy (mostly after birth the antibodies come back to normal without treatment).

Antibodies to thyroid peroxidase are increased, what is itmeans for health? Such pathology can lead to autoimmune thyroiditis (lymphocytic thyroiditis or Hashimoto), which, in turn, is the cause of hypothyroidism.

Than the consequences are terrible

Sometimes hypothyroidism is congenital. If it is found 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 first stages of specialhas no symptoms. TPO enzyme iodinated thyroglobulin. It is also important for the respiration of body cells. Antibodies to thyroid peroxidase are increased, what does this mean for a person's condition? This means that the processes in the cells of the organs are violated and, as a consequence, the work of the organs themselves. Infringements can concern changes of appearance of the person (fragility and loss of hair, a dry skin, change of a voice, hearing decrease, edemas). Also affects the nervous system, cardiovascular, digestive, reproductive, musculoskeletal.

Symptoms can be very different. Unfortunately, there is no one-hundred-percent treatment of this pathology. There is only supportive therapy. Therefore, it is important to find out in time that antibodies to thyroid peroxidase are increased. What does this mean, and who needs to do this analysis?

Criteria for the analysis of the presence of antibodies to TPO

Because thyroid peroxidase isthe main component of microsomes, then the analysis for antibodies to thyroid peroxidase is almost identical to the analysis for antibodies to microsomal thyreperoxidase. 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 drugs of lithium and interferon;

- pregnant women, who have elevated levels of TSH (thyrotropin).

Positive results of this analysisindicate the possibility of having one of the thyroid diseases. However, there are a number of cases where a high number of antibodies was observed in healthy people who did not have any problems with the thyroid gland. With a positive analysis for antibodies to TPO, such patients are followed by observation without treatment.