Chronic (autoimmune) thyroiditis

 ' Chronic thyroiditis '  (chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, etc.) is chronic  autoimmune inflammation  of the thyroid gland. It is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, but it may not develop in all cases.

  

Epidemiology
A common disease, it occurs in about 5% of the population with a predominance of women (4: 1).

Etiopathogenesis
The etiology is unknown, the production of antibodies and the sensitization of  lymphocytes by thyroid antigen are involved in the pathogenesis.

Clinical picture
It usually takes place completely asymptomatically for a long time. Hypothyroidism is the most important clinical set of symptoms. In the initial phase, " diffuse goiter  '(mostly painless) may occur, but in the subsequent phase, the thyroid gland usually shrinks ('   atrophy  ' ).

Diagnostics
Diagnosis is based on


 * 1)  'antibodies'  against thyroid Ag (TgAb, TPOAb),
 * 2)  'USG'  (hypoechogenic inhomogeneous thyroid).

We will also add an examination of thyroid function (free-T4, TSH).

Treatment
Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is initiated in hypothyroidism. We monitor a patient without a significant thyroid disorder.

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