Extreme high TPO antibodies

[ter1461]

My TPO has come back as reading 4020. I’m in shock and now worried. Can this level be an indication of anything more serious?

[greygoose]

Not exactly 'more serious', no. It's an indication that you have Autoimmune thyroiditis - aka Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. And, that that is the cause of your hypothyroidism. It's not more serious than non-autoimmune hypothyroidism. Antibodies fluctuate all the time. That blood draw just happened to catch them on a busy day.

[ter1461 in reply to greygoose]

It’s been this high for quite some months now Greygoose. Any suggestions on how best to try reduce them?

[greygoose in reply to ter1461]

There's no point in trying to reduce them. They aren't doing anything - well, just their job, which is to clean up the blood.

Even if you managed to get them down to zero - which is, of course, impossible - you would still have Hashi's. Antibodies fluctuate but Hashi's doesn't go away. And, the level of the antibodies is in no way an indication of the severity of the Hashi's. The antibodies are not the disease, they are a bi-product of it.

[Hidden in reply to ter1461]

My anti-TPO levels were above 6000 when I was originally diagnosed in 1999. For the past couple of years, they´ve been just above range (three months ago: 13; ref <6). I interpret that as a sign there is no hormone-producing tissue left to destroy and that I now have end-stage Hashimoto´s.

I have never felt any different depending on whether my antibodies were high or low. The only thing that affects me is my free Ts. So no, trying to get your antibodies down is not likely to succeed nor make you feel any different. As greygoose points out, Hashimoto´s doesn´t go away.

[Angelic69 in reply to ter1461]

Avoid carcinogens, foods with pesticides, anything that is known to cause allergic reaction eg wheat, gluten, etc. Keep windows closed during rush hour traffic especially if you live near a road. Reduce refined foods, fried foods, sugary foods, alcohol. Drink plenty of water, add some antioxidants to your diet, resvertrol supplements are an easy option. Reduce physical, mental and emotional stresses, easier said than done. Take time to rest but take time in natural day light too.

[hyporeb]

Do not panic. Mine have in the past been much higher than yours x

[ter1461 in reply to hyporeb]

How did you get them down. Are you on a special diet or anything?

[hyporeb in reply to ter1461]

I haven’t really got them down, so to speak - they tend to always be in the thousands when i’m tested.

I do take Selenium every day because so read an article once (sorry can’t remember where) on how selenium may help? Someone else may comment on that. I’m also on a gluten free diet now, but I always have ‘raised’ antibodies - never known any different.

[Lora7again]

My thyroglobulin antibodies have been 4000 for a few years now and my TPO are 600 so not as high as yours. They don't actually reflect how I am feeling but show my thyroid is under attack. Just to add I feel well at the moment.

[fuchsia-pink]

May be worth reading up on Hashi's - there are lots of posts here about it. Some people find going gluten-free helps. It's by far the commonest cause of hypothyroidism, so don't worry x

[ter1461]

I was on a protocol which involved iodine so I’m sure it’s that what caused it 😑

[Marz in reply to ter1461]

Oh dear ! It is often reported here that iodine is not a good idea unless you have been tested and being treated by a knowledgeable practitioner ...

[ter1461 in reply to Marz]

I was tested and he is a knowledgeable doctor.

[Marz in reply to ter1461]

OK - fine ! Maybe complete your Bio to save members asking you irrelevant questions ...

greygoose is a seasoned /experiencedposter and may have suggestions ...

[ter1461 in reply to Marz]

Unfortunately he didn’t have an answer for my antibodies raising from 106 to 4020 although I’m certain it was the iodine

[greygoose in reply to ter1461]

Probably was, yes. Iodine is a known trigger for Hashi's. But, the level of antibodies is of no importance. It doesn't mean you're sicker because your antibodies are higher.

[Marz in reply to ter1461]

Now I am confused.com 🙃🙃 Above you say your Doc is knowledgeable - then you mention he had no answer as to why your anti- bodies increased !

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to ter1461]

Is it a recognised, official protocol of some sort?

If so, could you let us know which one it is?

[ter1461 in reply to helvella]

No

[elaine2447]

Please don't get too anxious. About 4 years ago I had mine checked and it went above the hospital laboratory limit of 1300 so I don't know what they are. I immediately went on a gluten free diet for all this time and it hasnt made a scrap of difference. I was told that after the antibodies destroy the thyroid, then we are put on thyroxine. My TSH and T3 and T4 not brilliant but haven't changed.

[greygoose in reply to elaine2447]

No, the antibodies do not destroy the thyroid. It is the lymphocytes, produced by the immune system, that attack and destroy the thyroid. The TPO/Tg antibodies just clear up the debris after the attack.

[elaine2447 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you

[greygoose in reply to elaine2447]

You're welcome.

[Cooper27]

I saw a great analogy, to think of antibodies as being like soldiers. The quantity doesn't always correlate with their effectiveness. A team of 60 Secret Service agents can be far more effective than a team of 2000 16 year old new recruits, so seeing your antibodies quite so high isn't necessarily a sign that they are all as significant as each other.

Very high antibodies can suggest there is something else going on, for example a viral infection. The important thing is how you feel really?

[Rosie_P]

I think with Hashi’s a gluten free diet is recommended due to the auto-immune trigger. I read a research paper that indicated “cellular mimicry“. Apparently thyroid tissue/cells closely resemble modern day wheat gluten cells. So when you eat gluten your body acts in defense toward it and your thyroid gland cells. chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

Good article here!