A hospital-based study of anti-TPO titer in patients with thyroid disease

Context: Autoimmunity against the thyroid gland is one of the most important causes for thyroid dysfunction. Anti-thyroid antibody test is an important tool in the evaluation of autoimmune thyroid disorders. Aims: To study the prevalence of thyroid hormone dysfunction and positive anti-TPO antibody titers in patients being evaluated for thyroid-related disorders. Settings and Design:This retrospective cross-sectional study was done in Father Muller Medical College. Materials and Methods: The TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone), FT 4 (Free thyroxine), and anti-TPO titer reports of 74 subjects undergoing evaluation for thyroid-related disorders were analyzed. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical significance was estimated by P value. Results: About two-third (60%) of hypothyroid patients showed raised TPO antibody titer. The titer was significantly higher in hypothyroid subjects when compared to the euthyroid subjects, and a majority of the hypothyroid subjects had a titer at least twice the upper limit of normal. Two of the three subjects with hyperthyroidism also had elevated anti-TPO titers. Conclusions: The commonest cause of hypothyroidism in our study subjects was autoimmune-related thyroid disease. Anti-TPO antibody estimation is a very useful test for establishing the etiological diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases in our population. In situations where there is a diffuse non-progressive goiter, anti-TPO antibody estimation can substitute for an invasive FNAC.