Anti-thyroid peroxidase elevated in vitiligo patients

Vitiligo is an acquired skin problem associated with the loss of melanin (color) at various points in the skin. The exact cause is not known, and there are many theories as to why this skin problem occurs.

Newer theories suggest that vitiligo results from some form of early auto-immune disorder, where the body attacks its own cells, starting with the melanocytes (which are responsible for giving skin its color).

A high level of anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) was found to be very common in vitiligo patients, especially in young women with vitiligo. Anti-TPO is a sensitive and specific marker for autoimmune thyroid disorders such as Graves' disease and Hashimoto thyroiditis.

This finding suggests that young women with vitiligo should have regular testing to monitor their thyroid function. Regular testing may help identify autoimmune thyroid illness before it causes too much damage.