Hashimoto thyroiditis
Clinic
- Also known as Autoimmune thyroiditis and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis
- It is a chronic disease occurring in the thyroid, most commonly presents as hypothyroidism with or without a goiter including, but not limited to
- A larger goiter,
- Weight gain
- Cold intolerance
- Fatigue
- Myxedema
- Constipation
- Menstrual disturbances
- Pale or dry skin
- Dry, brittle hair
- Depression
- Ataxia
- Muscle weakness
Related disease
- Graves disease
- Addison disease
- Type 1 diabetes
- Sjogren's syndrome
- Celiac disease
- Autoimmune polyendocrine syndromes type 1 and 2.
Mechanism
The two antibodies most commonly implicated in autoimmune thyroiditis are
- Antibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb)
- Thyroglobulin (TgAb).
Laboratory values
The initial diagnostic evaluation will start with plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration. If elevated, it signifies hypothyroidism. The elevation is usually a marked increase over the normal range and is generally greater than 20 mg/dl. Free T4 levels will usually be lowered, but sometimes might be normal.
Doctors may check thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) whenever a thyroglobulin test is performed to see if the antibody is interfering. TgAb may also be ordered in regular intervals after a person has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and just like TPOAb, it can be associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The most common complement of lab values in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis are high TSH, low T4, and positive TPO antibodies.
Related entities