Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Peroxidase Antibodies

Anyone know anything about these? Just been told I have high levels of these and they are attacking my Thyroid Gland hence its now underactive started on Thyroxine 50mg now have to up it to 100mg. What I dont understand is, if its is to do with the immune system as is AS i understand, so how come I haven't had a cold for a couple of years

I looked up peroxidase antibodies online. These antibodies specifically attack the enzyme that produces thyroid hormones and it can be caused by an autoimmune disease. From what I can understand about AS is that the immune system is overactive and producing a lot of antibodies, which then attack the joints and cause inflammation, pain and joint damage. I don't totally understand it yet, but I almost NEVER get sick. I think if you are on the biologicals or DMARDS, they weaken the immune system to slow down the attacks. I just started taking a DMARD (methotrexate) and I have felt like I was starting to catch a cold, but it went away.

Chunkey,

Kathair is correct about the Peroxidase. The question you are really asking is; if my immune system is supressed why do I keep getting other autoimmune system failures?

The best way I can try to answer that is this. Your autoimmune system has a failure (the AS) this then causes a cascade of other autoimmune system failures. It is very common for people with AS to also have Chrons, IBS, Psoriasis, Fibromyalgia, and thyroid problems. I have AS and I also have developed a Hypothyroid (slow).

The autoimmune systems of people with AS are on hyperdrive, we take DMARD's and Biologics to help slow it down. But even when we are on the DMARD's and Biologics our immune systems are still way more active than people without autoimmune system diseases. That's why we don't seem to get sick as often as regular people.

I guess there is one plus to this AS after all. I hope this answers your question. I'm sorry to hear about your thyroid problem, if you keep needing larger doses of your med to stabilize your thyroid, you should probably ask about iradiating it to stop it completely, that is what my sister ended up having to do, her thyroid went hyperactive to the danger point.

Gay