Autoimmune thyroidites (the best known is Hashimoto) are due to an immune disruption with the production of antibodies that attack the thyroid gland. Symptoms, cause, diagnostic and treatment ultrasound.
There autoimmune thyroidite (most often Hashimoto thyroidite) is due to an immune disruption with the production of antibodies who attack the thyroid gland. What are The symptoms of a thyroidite ? Is it serious? What is the evolution of an autoimmune thyroidite? How do we take care of it?
Definition: What is autoimmune thyroiditis?
The thyroid is a gland located at the lower part of the neck, whose role is the secretion and regulation of thyroid hormones exercising many functions in the body. The thyroid can be the seat of so-called autoimmune diseases, by action of the body’s own antibodies against thyroid cells. We distinguish Basedow disease in which autoantibodies are attached to the thyroid and stimulate its secretion of hormones: it results in hyperthyroidism. Other autoimmune diseases affect the thyroid and lead to his inflammation : we talk about autoimmune thyroidite whose most typical example is Hashimoto thyroidite. Initially, thyroidites lead to an increase in secretion of thyroid hormones, then, conversely, hypothyroidism settles. At advanced stages, the return to normal functioning is possible, but in certain forms such as Hashimoto thyroiditis, hypothyroidism continues.
What are the symptoms of an autoimmune thyroidite?
Autoimmune thyroid is manifested most often by The appearance of a goiterexcept in a special case, atrophic thyroidite, where on the contrary it rapes. The appearance of this goiter does not cause pain. Manifestations are therefore often related to the thyroid stage. Dr. Scheimann explains that in his beginner form “Thyroidite can cause hyperthyroidism and therefore symptoms like nervousness, weight loss, tremors, thermophobia“. If it is a more advanced stadium, the doctor specifies that it will then train” ”hypothyroidism and therefore the associated symptoms: weight gain, muscle fatigue, concentration difficulties, hair falls“.
THE TSH dosage, Hormone responsible for stimulating the secretion of thyroid hormones, will be defined. A thyroid ultrasound Then the dosage of specific antibodies (anti-peroxidase antibodies) in question will confirm the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis.
When thyroiditis does not have annoying symptoms, No treatment is requested. In the opposite case, the annoying symptoms will be treated thanks to Synthetic thyroid hormones. Treatment may be necessary for life in the absence of symptom resolution.
What prevention to avoid autoimmune thyroiditis?
As part of a prevention of autoimmune thyroiditis, there is not really any attitude to adopt in order to avoid autoimmune thyroiditis. Dr. Scheimman, however, specifies that “regular consumption of seafood (fish bringing iodine), daily physical activity and smoking cessation help reduce the risk of thyroid thyroid dysfunction“. It may also be good to monitor certain people with different risk factors: women (between 30 and 60 years) and people with family or personal history of autoimmune disease.
What are the causes of a thyroid disruption?
Many causes are the source of a thyroid disruption:
- Autoimmune disease as in Basedow disease (most frequent hyperthyroidism), Hashimoto thyroidite (most frequent hypothyroidism) or atrophic spontaneous hypothyroidism
- Adenomas (Thyroid nodules) as in toxic adenoma or toxic multiheteronodular goiter which abnormally secrete thyroid hormones in excess excess
- A virus (COXSACKIE, OURLIEN or ADENOVIRUS virus) in the thyroidite of de Quervain
- Medicines: Cordarone®, iodized contrast products used for medical imaging or thyroid hormones of certain illegal weight loss cocktails for example
- A treatment: Partial or total ablation of the thyroid, radioactive iodine treatments or external radiotherapy;
- A delivery (between 6 weeks and 3 months) in the postpartum thyroidite
- At birth because of a malformation of the gland or a dysfunction
- By iodine deficiency (rare in France since table salts are supplemented in iodine)
- Secondary to pituitary gland or hypothalamus.
Thank you to Doctor Alain Scheimann, endocrinologist and author of and if it was the thyroid? (In Press, 2017)
