Even though we aren’t talking about thyroglobulin antibodies today, I want you to realize that they are both important in creating thyroid hormones.
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies: Lab Test, High Levels & More
As a thyroid patient, you should probably know a little bit about the protein known as thyroid peroxidase.
For starters, it’s one of, if not, the most important enzymes in your thyroid.
It is responsible for ensuring that your body can actually produce thyroid hormone.
If there is ANYTHING wrong with this enzyme then there is a good chance you will not be able to produce enough thyroid hormone and you may end up with the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
The good news is that most people don’t have any issues with thyroid peroxidase so they don’t have issues with thyroid function.
But many people, including those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, can develop antibodies to this very important enzyme.
And guess what happens if this occurs?
The enzyme is disrupted, you won’t be able to produce thyroid hormone, and you will become hypothyroid (or low thyroid).
We are going to spend a lot of time talking about this enzyme, how it becomes disrupted, what it means if you have antibodies to it, how to determine if your levels are normal, what symptoms are associated with high antibodies, and much more.
Before we do, though, let me explain a little more about thyroid peroxidase.
Thyroid peroxidase, when it is functioning normally, helps your body use iodine to create thyroid hormone (1).
It does this by oxidizing iodide into iodine, a process that is actually fairly dangerous for your thyroid cells.
This oxidation results in the formation of reactive compounds that can damage your thyroid gland!
When everything is functioning normally, your thyroid gland will use anti-oxidants to get rid of the dangerous compounds so no harm is done.
But if your body doesn’t have enough of these anti-oxidants your thyroid gland may become damaged.
When everything is working correctly, thyroid peroxidase creates iodine which is then taken up by another larger protein called thyroglobulin.
Thyroglobulin then smashes two halves of thyroid hormone together to form the full thyroid hormone complex.
Both thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin are incredibly important because they are often the site of thyroid antibody attacks.
And, often, when you see antibodies to one of these proteins you will see antibodies to the other (though not always).
Even though we aren’t talking about thyroglobulin antibodies today, I want you to realize that they are both important in creating thyroid hormones.
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Thyroid Antibodies
This test measures the level of thyroid antibodies in your blood. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located near the throat. Your thyroid makes hormones that regulate the way your body uses energy. It also plays an important role in regulating your weight, body temperature, muscle strength, and even your mood.
Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system to fight foreign substances like viruses and bacteria. But sometimes antibodies attack the body’s own cells, tissues, and organs by mistake. This is known as an autoimmune response. When thyroid antibodies attack healthy thyroid cells, it can lead to an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid. These disorders can cause serious health problems if not treated.
There are different types of thyroid antibodies. Some antibodies destroy thyroid tissue. Others cause the thyroid to make too much of certain thyroid hormones. A thyroid antibodies test usually measures one or more of the following types of antibodies:
- Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO). These antibodies can be a sign of:
- Hashimoto disease, also known as Hashimoto thyroiditis. This is an autoimmune disease and the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones.
- Graves’ disease. This is also an autoimmune disease and the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid makes too much of certain thyroid hormones.
Other names: thyroid autoantibodies, thyroid peroxidase antibody, TPO, Anti-TPO, thyroid- stimulating immunoglobulin, TSI
What is it used for?
A thyroid antibodies test is used to help diagnose autoimmune disorders of the thyroid.
Why do I need a thyroid antibodies test?
You may need this test if you have symptoms of a thyroid problem and your provider thinks they may be caused by Hashimoto disease or Grave’s disease.
Symptoms of Hashimoto disease include:
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Low tolerance for cold temperatures
- Irregular menstrual periods
- Constipation
- Depression
- Joint pain
Symptoms of Grave’s disease include:
- Weight loss
- Bulging of the eyes
- Tremors in the hand
- Low tolerance for heat
- Trouble sleeping
- Anxiety
- Increased heart rate
- Swollen thyroid, known as goiter
You may also need this test if other thyroid tests show that your thyroid hormone levels are too low or too high. These tests include measurements of hormones known as T3, T4, and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone).
What happens during a thyroid antibodies test?
A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?
There are no special preparations necessary for a thyroid antibodies blood test.
Are there any risks to the test?
There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly.
What do the results mean?
Your results may show one of the following:
- Negative: no thyroid antibodies were found. This means your thyroid symptoms are probably not caused by an autoimmune disease.
- Positive: antibodies to TPO and/or Tg were found. This may mean you have Hashimoto disease. Most people with Hashimoto disease have high levels of one or both of these types of antibodies.
- Positive: antibodies to TPO and/or TSH receptor were found. This may mean you have Grave’s disease.
The more thyroid antibodies you have, the more likely it is that you have an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid. If you are diagnosed with Hashimoto disease or Grave’s disease, there are medicines you can take to manage your condition.
Is there anything else I need to know about a thyroid antibodies test?
Thyroid disease can get worse during pregnancy. This can harm both the mother and her unborn baby. If you have ever had thyroid disease and are pregnant, you may be tested for thyroid antibodies along with tests that measure thyroid hormones. Medicines to treat thyroid disease are safe to take during pregnancy.
References
- American Thyroid Association [Internet]. Falls Church (VA): American Thyroid Association; c2019. Pregnancy and Thyroid Disease; [cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: http://www.thyroid.org/thyroid-disease-pregnancy
- American Thyroid Association [Internet]. Falls Church (VA): American Thyroid Association; c2019. Thyroid Function Tests; [cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.thyroid.org/thyroid-function-tests
- Lab Tests Online [Internet]. Washington D.C.: American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c2001–2019. Hashimoto Thyroiditis; [updated 2017 Nov 27; cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/conditions/hashimoto-thyroiditis
- Lab Tests Online [Internet]. Washington D.C.: American Association for Clinical Chemistry; c2001–2019. Thyroid Antibodies; [updated 2018 Dec 19; cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/thyroid-antibodies
- Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1998–2019. Thyroid peroxidase antibody test: What is it?; 2018 May 8 [cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/thyroid-disease/expert-answers/faq-20058114
- Mayo Clinic: Mayo Medical Laboratories [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1995–2019. Test ID: TPO: Thyroperoxidase (TPO) Antibodies, Serum: Clinical and Interpretative; [cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/81765
- Mayo Clinic: Mayo Medical Laboratories [Internet]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c1995–2019. Test ID: TPO: Thyroperoxidase (TPO) Antibodies, Serum: Overview; [cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/Overview/81765
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Blood Tests; [cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/blood-tests
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Hashimoto’s Disease; 2017 Sep [cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hashimotos-disease
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid); 2016 Aug [cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hyperthyroidism
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid); 2016 Aug [cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hypothyroidism
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Thyroid Tests; 2017 May [cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diagnostic-tests/thyroid
- Physician’s Weekly [Internet]. Physician’s Weekly; c2018. Managing Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy; 2012 Jan 24 [cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.physiciansweekly.com/thyroid-disease-during-pregnancy
- University of Rochester Medical Center [Internet]. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Medical Center; c2019. Health Encyclopedia: Thyroid Antibody; [cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=thyroid_antibody
- UW Health [Internet]. Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; c2019. Antithyroid Antibody Tests: Results; [updated 2018 Mar 15; cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 8 screens]. Available from: https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/medicaltest/antithyroid-antibody-tests/abq5900.html#abq5907
- UW Health [Internet]. Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; c2019. Antithyroid Antibody Tests: Test Overview; [updated 2018 Mar 15; cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/medicaltest/antithyroid-antibody-tests/abq5900.html
- UW Health [Internet]. Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; c2019. Antithyroid Antibody Tests: Why It Is Done; [updated 2018 Mar 15; cited 2019 Jan 2]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/medicaltest/antithyroid-antibody-tests/abq5900.html#abq5902
Related Health Topics
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Endocrine Diseases
- Hormones
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Thyroid Diseases
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