[Frequency of positive anti thyroid peroxidase antibody titers among normal individuals].
BACKGROUND
Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies have a pathogenic role in Hashimoto thyroiditis. Between 10 and 19% of individuals without thyroid disease, have positive titers of these antibodies.


OBJECTIVE
To study the frequency of positive titers of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies in healthy individuals.


METHODS
A blood sample, to measure anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) by chemoluminiscense assay, was obtained from 67women and 62 men aged 45 +/- 14years, without a personal or familiar history of thyroid diseases and normal thyroid palpation. The cutoff point of the manufacturer to consider positive a titer of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies was set at 35 IU/ml.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight women and 28 men had positive antibody titers (43% of the sample). Subjects in the upper tercile of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody titers had a higher TSH than those in the second tercile, although within normal limits (1.73 +/- 0.74 and 1.37 +/- 0.59 mlU/L, respectively p = 0.02) CONCLUSIONS: Forty three percent of the studied subjects without personal or familial history of thyroid diseases had positive titers of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies. Further prospective studies should evaluate whether this observation discloses an increase in thyroid autoimmune disease in a population with increased iodine intake.
Lanas
Alejandra
A
Sección de Endocrinología, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Letelier
Carolina
C
Caamaño
Egardo
E
Massardo
Teresa
T
González
Patricio
P
Araya
A Verónica
AV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D000906:Antibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase