Early Warning Signs You Might Need an Anti-TPO Test

TPO (thyroid peroxidase) in our body plays an important role in stimulating the thyroid to produce health essential hormones. However, there are cases where the immune system incorrectly targets thyroid and TPO cells. The immune system works towards producing proteins in our body known as antibodies, helping to eliminate TPO. So, if other tests indicate that you have thyroid disease, you may require a TPO antibody test to detect the antibodies.

Thyroid disease can happen at any age and reasons could be many. If someone has a thyroid disease, the doctor may suggest an anti-TPO test and additional thyroid screening tests. It helps in knowing the cause of the disease. Pregnant women with autoimmune thyroid disorders might be asked by the doctor to undergo the TPO antibody test. Pregnant women may face some symptoms which act as warning signs, resulting in the anti-TPO test.

What is an Anti-TPO Test?

Also known as the thyroid peroxidase auto-antibody test, the anti-TPO test detects levels of thyroid antibodies in the body, which can indicate serious medical issues. This test is helpful for individuals with high TSH levels, even if their free T4 levels are within normal limits.

Some Early Warning Signs that call for Anti TPO Test

The doctor may advise you to undergo the Anti TPO test when you have warning signs, including-

●   Feeling Fatigue and Weakness: Persistent tiredness and low energy levels are among the most common indicators that you might need an Anti-TPO test. It helps to detect the presence of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies, causing these signs.

●   Muscle Pain and Weakness: Unexplained aches and weakness in muscles or joints could point to a thyroid-related condition—screening with an Anti-TPO test can help identify the cause and guide proper management.

●   Sudden Weight Fluctuations: Sudden changes in weight without any alterations in diet or lifestyle can signal the need for a TPO test to investigate potential thyroid issues.

●   Mood Swings: Experiencing constant mood changes or anxiety may suggest underlying thyroid dysfunction, making it important to get tested.

When must you undergo the Anti-TPO Test?

While determining the diagnosis of an autoimmune condition that affects the thyroid, the doctor may not ask for a thyroid antibody test. Following are the situations where anti-tpo test can be required:

• Hyperthyroidism: In some situations, an overactive thyroid may indicate Graves' disease, which can be confirmed by a physical exam and thyroid hormone tests. In less visible cases, TRAB tests or imaging methods such as ultrasound and radionuclide thyroid scans, can help diagnose or rule out Graves' disease.

• Subclinical hypothyroidism: TPO antibody testing can assist in establishing that a person having extreme levels of TSH and normal FT4 levels will progress to more severe and permanent hypothyroidism or stay subclinical with no symptoms.

• Goiter: Even if thyroid hormone levels are adequate, some doctors consider testing for TPOAB in cases where the thyroid gland has swollen unnaturally.

How does the anti-TPO test help?

• Diagnosing Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders: The anti-TPO test helps to identify autoimmune thyroid conditions, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease.

• Monitoring Thyroid Conditions: It can also help track the progression of autoimmune thyroid disease and assess how well treatments are working.

• Assessing Risk: Elevated anti-TPO antibody levels in individuals with normal thyroid function may signal a higher risk of developing thyroid issues in the future.

• Evaluating Infertility: The presence of anti-TPO antibodies is linked to infertility in women. As thyroid dysfunction can impact fertility, testing for these antibodies is often included in infertility evaluations.

Interpretation of Anti-TPO Test

The normal range for Anti-TPO can vary greatly depending on the testing method, the laboratory and other factors. Anti-TPO levels are typically less than 9.0 IU/mL, with anything beyond this threshold deemed abnormal.

Normal results: The result is less than 35 IU/mL.

This indicates no major autoimmune activity against the thyroid.

Above: > 35 IU/mL.

This suggests autoimmune thyroid illness, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease.

Additionally, one must keep in mind that the result may differ according to the lab. Moreover, there is no possibility that thyroid peroxidase antibodies much lower than the prescribed one.

Does high TPO mean Cancer?

TPO antibodies are present in 1-20% of thyroid cancer patients and can also be found in healthy individuals. The primary symptom of thyroid cancer is a painless neck lump. If you see the same, it is best to consult the doctor for a recommendation.

Conclusion

The Anti-TPO test is one of several tests used to assess thyroid health. For an accurate diagnosis and to determine the most appropriate treatment plan, its results should be interpreted alongside other thyroid function tests and a thorough clinical evaluation.