Thyroid Peroxidase Treatment

Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is an important enzyme of the thyroid gland that assists in the production of thyroid hormone. Thyroid peroxidase treatment focuses on altering the level of antibodies that are damaging this crucial element of metabolic regulation.

Significance

• A thyroid peroxidase test determines the amount of bloodstream antibodies attacking TPO and reducing the ability of this enzyme to work effectively.

  "The presence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies in your blood suggests that the cause of thyroid disease is due to an autoimmune disorder such as Hashimoto's disease or Graves' disease," says Dr. Todd Nippoldt, an endocrinologist with the Mayo Clinic. " In autoimmune disorders, your immune system makes antibodies that mistakenly attack normal tissue." The result is inflammation that minimizes the thyroid functionality.

Test

• Those diagnosed with a thyroid disease will usually undergo a thyroid peroxidase antibody test to determine the exact cause. The first sign is typically a goiter (an enlarged thyroid or a lump of cells, called a nodule) that has become visible within the throat. Doctors will order a TPO when other test results measuring the levels of T3 or T4 hormone or TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) show insufficient levels of these hormones.

Treatment

• Since a high level of thyroid peroxidase antibodies typically signals the onset of Hashimoto's disease, thyroid peroxidase treatment will center on reducing the effects of this illness. Alternatively referred to as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the disease is a mistaken attack of the immune system against the thyroid, causing inflammation and reduced function. Endocrinologists will most often prescribe thyroid hormone replacement therapy in the form of the medication levothyroxine.

Prognosis

• With thyroid peroxidase antibodies attacking the thyroid gland, the goal in the treatment of Hashimoto's disease is to replenish hormone production that is being stifled and thus avoid the full onset of hypothyroidism--a gland that is unable to provide required amounts of hormone necessary for proper metabolic regulation.

  "The outcome is usually very good," according to the University of Wisconsin's School of Medicine and Public Health. "The disease stays stable for years. If it does slowly progress to thyroid hormone deficiency (hypothyroidism), it can be treated with thyroid replacement therapy."

Graves' Disease

• The presence of high levels of thyroid peroxidase antibodies may also raise a flag as to the presence of Graves' disease. Although both are the result of the immune system mistakenly attacking the thyroid and forcing it to malfunction, Graves' disease is the opposite of Hashimoto's in that it brings on hyperthyroidism (overactivity of the thyroid), causing it to produce excessive levels of the hormone thyroxine. In this case, thyroid peroxidase treatment will center around treatment of Graves' disease itself, first with medication designed to limit production of thyroxine.

  Should that fail, radioactive iodine will be utilized to essentially halt production of all hormone from the thyroid. In that case, hormone replacement therapy will then be utilized to replenish essential bodily hormones.