Antibodies to AT TPO

To date, throughout the world, the problem of the pathology of the thyroid gland does not lose its relevance. Iodine deficiency 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 influence of the environment. In this case, inorganic iodine is intended for the synthesis of hormones such as T3 and T4, on which the amount of pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) that controls the activity of the thyroid gland depends.

It should be said that if the thyroid gland does not perform its functions in an adequate manner, certain diseases (autoimmune) develop in the body. Thus, the detection of antibodies AT TPO in the study of antibodies can indicate an aggressive state of immunity in relation to the whole organism. That is why, for various kinds of thyroid diseases, a blood test for the level of TSH and the presence of antibodies to AT TPO are prescribed. If the latter are still observed, then they speak about autoimmune pathology.

AT TPO is an enzyme that takes part in the synthesis of hormones SHCHZ and in the process of iodination of hormones. It is a part of thyroid antigen.

The reason for the analysis can serve as a diagnosis of diseases such as goitre, hypo and hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease, thyroiditis, edema of the shins. Also, the 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, so the secretion of hormones T4 and T3 is reduced. But not all cases of thyroid peroxidase indicate the presence of an autoimmune process.

This study is indispensable in the diagnosis of thyroid disease. The appearance of disturbances in her work is the first signal of the development of hypothyroidism. If highly sensitive methods of diagnosis of TPO are used, this disease is found in 94% of patients, Graves disease - in 84%, non-autoimmune thyroid diseases - in 15% of people. A low level of enzyme is often found in healthy people, so the question of the development of various diseases in this case is not sufficiently studied.

It should be noted that in the case when AT TPO is elevated, this indicates a process such as hypothyroidism. This kind of disorder occurs as a result of antibody slowing down of TPO activity, oxidation rate of iodine, and, consequently, acceptance 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 TTG and T4. In the case of normal T4 and reduced TSH, a T3 study is performed. In the latter case, a complete examination for antibodies to ATP is necessary.

Thus, indications for the study may include suspicions of goiter, hypothyroidism and AIT. 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 autoimmune disease, since in most cases ATP TPO is present in quite healthy people.

From all this it follows that when this enzyme is found, a comprehensive examination should be carried out with the aim to exclude the risk of AIT development.

Thus, regardless of the situation, thyroid peroxidase is a fairly sensitive test of autoimmune abnormalities in the thyroid gland, therefore such studies are used in almost every medical institution.