Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Certain medications can have the unintended side effect of affecting thyroid function. While some medications can lead to significant hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and those at risk will need to be carefully monitored, some medications may affect thyroid hormone lab tests without causing any symptoms or clinical changes, and may not require treatment.
[3] [5] Regardless of the severity of the disease or the type of treatment used, 20–56% of adult patients experienced transient hypothyroidism a few weeks after the hyperthyroid period. [27] Though it only happens in 5–15% of cases, persistent hypothyroidism can develop years after the diagnosis.
Subclinical hypothyroidism is a biochemical diagnosis characterized by an elevated serum TSH level, but with a normal serum free thyroxine level. [48] [49] [50] The incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism is estimated to be 3-15% and a higher incidence is seen in elderly people, females and those with lower iodine levels. [48]
The body's need for thyroid hormone can also change over time, such as in the first months after radioactive iodine treatment (RAI). Thyroid autoimmune diseases can also be volatile [citation needed], as hyperthyroidism can interchange with hypothyroidism and euthyroidism. [2]
Thyroid hormone treatment is also included if required. Failure of some patients to respond to this first-line treatment has produced a variety of alternative treatments, including azathioprine , cyclophosphamide , chloroquine , methotrexate , periodic intravenous immunoglobulin, and plasma exchange.
Thyroiditis is generally caused by an immune system attack on the thyroid, resulting in inflammation and damage to the thyroid cells. This disease is often considered a malfunction of the immune system and can be associated with IgG4-related systemic disease, in which symptoms of autoimmune pancreatitis, retroperitoneal fibrosis and noninfectious aortitis also occur.
After many years the thyroid typically shrinks in size. [1] Potential complications include thyroid lymphoma. [2] Further complications of hypothyroidism can include high cholesterol, heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, myxedema, and potential problems in pregnancy. [1]
Subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis can only be diagnosed correctly by taking a radioactive iodine uptake test (RAIU) test. [1] [3] During both the hyperthyroid and hypothyroid phases, radioiodine uptake is decreased. [4] This situation contrasts greatly with the elevated iodine uptake found in patients with Graves' disease. [1]