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Thyroidmicrosomal autoantibodies in blood
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
Thyroid microsomal antibodies are not detected in healthy people.
Determination of antibodies to the microsomal fraction of the thyroid gland is used to diagnose autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism, in which the level of antibodies in the blood increases. Antibodies to thyroid microsomes form immune complexes on the surface of cells, activate complement and cytotoxic lymphocytes, which leads to cell destruction and the formation of an inflammatory process in the thyroid gland.
Autoantibodies in thyroiditis are organ-specific. Their level correlates with the severity of the inflammatory process and can be used as a prognostic sign. Under the influence of effective therapy, the antibody titer decreases, but does not return to normal due to impaired immunoregulation. In thyroiditis, activating antibodies can form, enhancing the function of the gland by blocking thyroid-stimulating receptors. Their fixation on TSH receptors causes abnormal cellular activation, which leads to hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid microsomal autoantibodies appear in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, Graves' disease, thyroid cancer, thyrotoxicosis, after thyroid surgery, taking radioactive iodine, pernicious anemia, Schmidt syndrome, collagenoses.