CASE REPORT – ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT IN FEMALE PATIENTS WITH ELEVATED ANTI-TPO LEVELS

Slightly elevated level of TSH, normal T3/T4 levels and high Anti TPO level is a sign of subclinical hypothyroidism. More than 90% of the thyroid disease cases are caused by diseases that are autoimmune in nature. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a progressive and lifelong autoimmune disease. It starts subtly, usually long before the patient is diagnosed and develops slowly. In this research is presented a case of 38-year-old woman with elevated anti-TPO levels, without previous thyroid disorders. The patient has done 10 acupuncture treatments every two weeks in a period of 6 months. Before the treatment the anti-TPO level was 91.2 U/ml (<60.0 U/ml). After the treatment it was normalized to 54.8 U/ml. The TSH level before the treatment was also slightly elevated to the upper range – 4.39 pIU/ml (0.55-4.75 pIU/ml). After the treatment it was normalized to 2.08 pIU/ml. Acupuncture points used in the treatment are: RN4 (QuanYuan), RN6 (QiHai), DU20 (BaiHui), GB20 (FengChi), DU14 (DaZhui), LI4 (HeGu), DU4 (MingMen), BL15 (XinShu), ST9 (RenYing), BL20 (PiShu), BL23 (ShenShu), LR2 (TaiChong), SP9 (YinLingQuan), SP6 (SanYinJiao), ST36 (ZuSanLi), KI3 (TaiXi) and Ashi (trigger) points located on the neck (front and back). The acupuncture treatment is always most effective at the onset of the disease and gives good results in such pre-conditions. The acupuncture treatment is a great choice for prevention, as well as for more serious and advanced conditions.