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Occurrences of AIT are most common in patients with prior thyroid disease such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis or thyroid cancer. The most common cause of infection in children is a congenital abnormality such as pyriform sinus fistula. [5] In most cases, the infection originates in the piriform sinus and spreads to the thyroid via the fistula. [7]
Thyroid function testing frequently reveals decreased thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and increased serum levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) during the acute phase of the disease. [2] The intrathyroidal T3 and T4 levels are often reflected by the T3 to T4 ratio, which is typically less than 20 (ng/dL divided by μg/dL). [22]
The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is confirmed by blood tests that show a decreased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level and elevated T 4 and T 3 levels. TSH is a hormone made by the pituitary gland in the brain that tells the thyroid gland how much hormone to make. When there is too much thyroid hormone, the TSH will be low.
If infectious thyroiditis is suspected a neck ultrasound can be utilized to check for an abscess. Color flow doppler is expected to show reduced blood flow in thyroiditis vs. hyperthyroidism. [5] Blood tests will usually include thyroid function tests as well levels of specific thyroid antibodies and thyroglobulin.
TSH is the preferred initial test of thyroid function as it has a higher sensitivity to changes in thyroid status than free T 4. [60] Time of day can affect the results of this test; TSH peaks early in the morning and slumps in the late afternoon to early evening, [61] with "a variation in TSH by a mean of between 0.95 mIU/mL to 2.0 mIU/mL". [62]
Low levels of thyroid hormones can lead to symptoms including fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, dry, flakey skin, loss of hair and inability to concentrate.
A randomized control trial testing single dose treatment for Graves' found methimazole achieved euthyroidism (normal thyroid function that occurs within normal serum levels of TSH and T4 [23]) more effectively after 12 weeks than did propylthiouracil (77.1% on methimazole 15 mg vs 19.4% in the propylthiouracil 150 mg groups). [24]
The abnormality in the channel is thought to lead to shifts of potassium into cells, under conditions of high thyroxine (thyroid hormone) levels, usually with an additional precipitant. Treatment of the low levels of potassium in the blood, followed by correction of the hyperthyroidism, leads to complete resolution of the attacks.