THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES

[Syrupy]

Hi everyone.I'm in need of your collective guidance.

A member of my family has recently had blood work done. She hasn't had a diagnosis for thyroid issues (so far).

About 2wks ago she suffered with some facial swelling, like a water retention around her forehead and eyes. After a visit to the GP she was prescribed penicillin (antibiotics). After about 3 or 4days of taking the meds the swelling went down, but her hair started to fall out.

She stopped taking the meds straight away and went back to her GP who ordered numerous blood tests.

She got the results of the thyroid tests yesterday and my concern is that her Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies were over 500! Nowhere near the range of 0 to 34.

She's been referred to a dermatologist and an endocrinologist, but the referrals will take weeks.

Can any of you advise if this blood result could indicate anything to do with hair loss?

I believe her TSH and other results were 'normal'.

TIA.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

She needs vitamin D, folate, B12 and full iron panel test for anaemia including ferritin

Low iron/ferritin often linked to hair loss

High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called hashimoto’s

She needs actual results for TSH, Ft4 and FT3 results

She needs coeliac blood test too before considering a trial on gluten free diet

High percentage of hashimoto’s patients frequently develop gluten intolerance

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Welcome to the group.

Understand that its limiting giving advice and asking questions for a third person so if they could get on here it does make it easier all round.

Raised TPO antibodies usually indicate autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's. The early stages of that can leave a person with 'normal' thyroid results but many symptoms. Couldn't comment further without seeing the results and reference ranges for the tests. Frequently what a doctor says is normal is not always normal for that person.

When someone is hypo or even in the early stages of Hashi's they get low vitamin levels caused by low stomach acid. This means that vitamins are not absorbed well from their diet, even if it is a fantastic diet. Ferritin, folate, B12 & D3 should be tested and supplemented individually to raise levels to optimal.

Low levels of ferritin can cause hair loss in particular as can low thyroid levels.

This article explains about the early stages of autoimmune thyroid disease. thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...