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An association between thyroid disease and myasthenia gravis has been recognized. Thyroid disease, in this condition, is autoimmune in nature and approximately 5% of people with myasthenia gravis also have hyperthyroidism. Myasthenia gravis rarely improves after thyroid treatment and the relationship between the two entities is becoming better ...
Thyroid disease is a medical condition that affects the structure and/or function of the thyroid gland.The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck and produces thyroid hormones [1] that travel through the blood to help regulate many other organs, meaning that it is an endocrine organ.
The drawback to this treatment is the thyroid gland is completely destroyed and patients often develop hypothyroidism. Some do so only a few months after treatment while others may not be affected for 20–30 years. Hypothyroidism patients must begin a lifelong regimen of thyroid replacement hormones.
Treatment with antithyroid medications must be administered for six months to two years to be effective. Even then, upon cessation of the drugs, the hyperthyroid state may recur. The risk of recurrence is about 40–50%, and lifelong treatment with antithyroid drugs carries some side effects such as agranulocytosis and liver disease. [27]
Amiodarone induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) is a form of hyperthyroidism due to treatment with antiarrhythmic drug, amiodarone. Amiodarone induced thyroid dysfunction more commonly results in hypothyroidism, estimated to occur in 6-32% of patients, whereas hyperthyroidism from amiodarone use is estimated at 1-12%. [1]
Thyroid function tests (TFTs) is a collective term for blood tests used to check the function of the thyroid. [1] TFTs may be requested if a patient is thought to suffer from hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), or to monitor the effectiveness of either thyroid-suppression or hormone replacement therapy.
Regardless of the inconsistent findings, a 2007 study by Andersen et al. states that the distinction between sub-clinical and overt thyroid disease is in any case somewhat arbitrary. [55] Sub-clinical hyperthyroidism has been reported in 63% of euthyroid Graves' disease, [56] but only in 4% of cases where Graves' disease was in remission. [57]
Both NTIS and primary hypothyroidism may have reduced fT3 and fT4, and elevated TSH (which is common in the hospital, during the recovery phase of NTIS). [2] Prescribing thyroxine to treat this may lead to lifelong thyroid overtreatment. [2] Hyperthyroidism may be assumed due to decreased TSH and a transient fT4 increase.