Autoimmune thyroid disease is common but can be confusing. A big component of the diagnosis is the blood test for TPO antibodies. TPO stands for Thyroid Peroxidase and it is vitally important for the production of thyroid hormone (which impacts almost every system in our body…so yeah, it’s important). Those with an antibody for TPO can then develop problems producing thyroid hormone and a slew of problems can follow.
[Read more…] about The TPO Antibody explainedAuto-antibodies
Why a +RF test doesn’t always mean you have Rheumatoid Arthritis
If you’ve ever seen a doctor because of persistent hand pain or hand swelling or even knee pain it is quite possible you’ve had the Rheumatoid Factor test done. When it comes back positive it is easy to assume that it means you have Rheumatoid Arthritis, I mean, obviously, it has the same name in it, “Rheumatoid.” But as with most things antibody related, it’s not that simple. The Rheumatoid Factor can be positive in a lot of different conditions aside from Rheumatoid Arthritis and the chance of having a positive Rheumatoid Factor blood test goes up as we get older.
Learn more about the Rheumatoid Factor (RF) and Rheumatoid Arthritis in the above video and take notes. Having more information will help you understand your own labs results and get you more prepared for your own doctor’s visit. 
The ANA test explained
Getting blood tests done that you aren’t familiar with can be nerve-wracking. One of the most common blood tests rheumatologists get asked about is the Anti-Nuclear Antibody test, or ANA. It is often associated with SLE (lupus) but it can be positive in a number of other conditions. Before jumping to conclusions, it’s important to know what a positive ANA means and what it doesn’t. Learn more in today’s video!
Cheers!
Dr. Ortiz