What are Antibodies to Thyroid Peroxidase

What are antibodies to thyroid peroxidase? Many doctors and patients are confused about what it means to have thyroid peroxidase antibodies in the blood.

Antibodies are created by the body to fight things like infections. 

Sometimes the body produces antibodies incorrectly where the antibodies attack normal parts of the body. When this happens, people develop autoimmune disease. 

Antibodies to thyroid peroxidase are one type of these autoimmune antibodies. These are antibodies created by the body that recognize the thyroid as “other.” They attack the thyroid and eventually can cause hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. This is called hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Some people have antibodies to thyroid peroxidase and normal thyroid function. These patients do not need medication.

A small percentage of people of people with hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis do not have antibodies to thyroid peroxidase or antibodies to thyroglobulin in their blood, so testing for antibodies to thyroid peroxidase do not define diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Watch this IG live video with our endocrinologist Dr. Thangudu and primary care physician, Dr. Gentile to learn more about antibodies to thyroid peroxidase!