ABSTRACT
Introduction: Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder characterized by decreased levels of thyroid hormones. Anti-thyroperoxidase antibody is produced in autoimmune thyroiditis which inhibits the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Aims & Objectives: The study was planned to explore the significance of anti-TPO antibody in hypothyroid patients. Materials and Methods: 150 newly diagnosed patients, age 20-60 years were enrolled for the study. Patients were divided on the basis of antiTPO levels as anti-TPO positive(n=87) anti-TPO negative (n=63).Thyroid hormones viz. serum triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free T3 (FT3), free T4 (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were compared between the two groups. Results: Mean serum TSH level was significantly higher in anti-TPO positive group. Mean serum T3 & T4 levels were comparable (P= NS) among the two groups whereas FT3 (P= 0.014) and FT4 (P= 0.003) were significantly lower in the anti-TPO positive group. Conclusion: Serum FT3 & FT4 represent the biologically active proportion of thyroid hormones. The present study suggests that lower FT3 & FT4 levels can better correlate with anti-TPO activity in patients of hypothyroidism