Endocrine Abstracts

This audit investigated the utilization of thyroid peroxidase antibodies testing in our trust. TPOAb, which emerges as a response to thyroid injury, is found in up to 27% of the population and is associated with autoimmune thyroid disorders. However, it is not considered a disease-causing factor or transmitted from mother to fetus. TPOAb is commonly requested in the community. The retrospective audit reviewed 282 requests from the adult service to the laboratory. After excluding 18 requests, 264 samples underwent analysis. The laboratory rejected 69 samples due to unclear indications, including 15 with known hypothyroidism on Levothyroxine, 29 with normal thyroid function test results, and 25 with Graves’ disease. Among the processed 230 samples, 83 tested positive and 130 tested negative for TPOAb. Four positive results were from cardiology patients undergoing screening for Amiodarone treatment. All patients with a TSH level below 10 had negative results, and their treatment was unaffected by TPOAb. In the emergency department, eight patients were tested for thyrotoxicosis, relying on thyroid receptor antibody and uptake scan results for management. In the outpatient department, TPOAb testing was performed on thirteen patients as part of their annual screening for T1DM. From the antenatal fourteen samples were sent for patients aged 21-35. Among them, four tested positive for TPOAb, all of whom were already on Levothyroxine. Ten samples had negative results, resulting in no change in management. Out of the 213 samples from general practice, 94 showed positive thyroid receptor antibody results for subclinical hypothyroidism. Only two of these patients received Levothyroxine, with a mean TSH level of 7.5. Forty samples were from patients already on Levothyroxine treatment, and all had negative results, with a mean TSH level of 8. Overall, the audit did not find any change in patient management based on TPOAb results. Most patients are treated independently regardless of TPOAb