Indications: High abnormal levels of thyroid peroxidase antibodies are present in 80% - 95% of patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, 18% of patients with Graves’ disease, and 90% of patients with primary myxoedema. Low abnormal levels of thyroid peroxidase antibodies can be detected in patients with colloidal goitre, thyroid carcinoma, transiently in de Quervain’s thyroiditis, and occasionally in normal people. They are also associated with other organ-specific autoimmune diseases, such as pernicious anaemia, Addison’s disease, etc.

Related tests: Antibodies against thyroglobulin can be tested if there is a clinical requirement, e.g. if interference with thyrogobulin measurement is suspected.

N.B. Requests for autoantibodies should be selective and relevant to the clinical circumstances. There is rarely any merit in requesting a particular autoantibody if there is no clinical evidence of the disease(s) with which it is associated .

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