Why did my doctor order thyroid antibodies?
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS
Antibodies answer the why behind an odd TSH: high TPO antibodies point to Hashimoto's, the immune system slowly dialing the thyroid down, the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Different antibodies confirm Graves disease when the thyroid runs hot.
In borderline cases, positive antibodies predict who will progress to real hypothyroidism, shaping whether to watch or treat.
Positive antibodies with normal function need monitoring, not panic, often just an annual TSH. The result mostly refines the plan; it rarely changes today.
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