Autoimmune Thyroiditis - Causes And Symptoms Of Autoimmune Thyroiditis

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Autoimmune thyroiditis

Causes and symptoms of autoimmune thyroiditis

What is autoimmune thyroiditis?

Autoimmune thyroiditis is a chronic thyroid disorder characterized by autoimmune inflammation, which often results in hypothyroidism. In addition, autoimmune thyroiditis is nowadays considered the most common thyroid disease. According to the data published in the newspaper "Medical Gazeta" (No. 73 for September 2005), approximately 50% of all women aged 30 to 50 years suffer from autoimmune thyroiditis. This figure in some other regions reaches 85%. Among the patients with endocrine diseases who applied for medical help, almost half of them suffer from autoimmune thyroiditis, both independently and accompanied by other diseases. As statistics show, in 50% of cases, relatives of patients suffering from autoimmune thyroiditis have circulating antibodies to the thyroid gland. Or other autoimmune diseases are observed in the same family, such as pernicious anemia, autoimmune primary hypocorticism, chronic autoimmune hepatitis, type I diabetes mellitus, vitiligo, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.

Symptoms of autoimmune thyroiditis

Needless to say about those patients suffering from autoimmune thyroiditis, but with preserved gland function? Such patients practically do not complain about their health. But nevertheless, some of the symptoms of autoimmune thyroiditis are a feeling of discomfort in the front of the neck, a person experiences discomfort when wearing a high collar, scarf or shawl. And quite the opposite - when there is hypothyroidism.

The patient's appearance. What are the distinguishing features of a sick person with autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism?

A qualified specialist recognizes the appearance of such a patient immediately - when he first appears in the office.

Usually such a patient has slow movements. The complexion is pale with a yellowish tinge, the face is puffy, the facial features are rough, the eyelids are swollen. On a pale face there is an unhealthy blush on the cheekbones and the tip of the nose in the form of red spots.

Hair is sparse and fragile, often falls out in patches, resulting in bald patches. Hair loss is observed not only on the head, but also in the armpits and pubic region. There is also a Hertog symptom, that is, hair loss of the outer third of the eyebrows.

During a conversation, a weak facial expression is observed, the face practically does not change expression. A person speaks slowly, picks up words for a long time and hardly remembers the names of phenomena and objects. He speaks incomprehensibly, as if he had put some porridge in his mouth. A similar violation in speech occurs due to swelling of the tongue. The tongue becomes large, thick, teeth marks remain on the lateral surfaces. There is also swelling of the mucous membranes of the nose, the patient has to breathe through the mouth. Quite often he suffers from shortness of breath. The skin of such a patient is dry and pale, its elasticity is reduced, it has a yellowish tint, sometimes it forms rough folds. The skin feels rough and cold when touched. Dry plaques (xerosis) and cracks on the elbows and soles are possible.

Complaints. Usually the patient complains of severe fatigue, poor performance and a constant desire to sleep. It is worth paying attention to a decrease in memory and a change in voice (it becomes hoarse).

Often, the patient complains of the impossibility of independent stool, he has to resort to laxatives and enemas.

Women often have menstrual irregularities. Menses are delayed for several days or weeks. Menses scanty. Uterine bleeding occurs. Such menstrual irregularities can cause the development of amenorrhea - the complete cessation of menstruation. As a result, infertility develops. Some patients begin to worry about discharge from the nipples of the mammary gland, mastopathy.

Men are worried about decreased sex drive and impotence.

A common symptom of thyroiditis is dry mouth in the morning without excessive thirst. In the case when a child suffers from this disease, he usually lags behind his peers in growth and mental development. From the foregoing, it can be concluded that the complaints and appearance of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and hypothyroidism are quite eloquent.

On the subject: An effective nutritional method for the treatment of autoimmune diseases

Causes of postpartum autoimmune thyroiditis

The cause of postpartum thyroiditis is excessive reactivation of the immune system after natural gestational immunosuppression (rebound phenomenon), which in persons with a predisposition (carriers of AT-TPO) leads to destructive autoimmune thyroiditis.

The factors that provoke painless ("silent") thyroiditis are unknown. This type of destructive autoimmune thyroiditis is a complete analogue of postpartum thyroiditis. However, it develops regardless of pregnancy. The reason for the development of cytokine-induced thyroiditis may be the prescription of interferon preparations to the patient. However, no direct temporal relationship between the development of thyroiditis and the duration of interferon therapy was observed. Thyroiditis can develop both at the beginning of treatment with this drug, and after it - after a month or more.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".