Hashimoto\u2019s thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. Read on to find out more about its symptoms, causes, and available treatments.<\/p>\n
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Hashimoto\u2019s thyroiditis <\/strong>(also known as Hashimoto\u2019s, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, or autoimmune thyroiditis) is a progressive autoimmune disease in which the body attacks and destroys the thyroid gland.<\/strong><\/p>\n Hashimoto\u2019s is characterized by inflammation of the thyroid gland and high levels of antibodies against thyroid enzymes. Eventually, the damage and inflammation progress to hypothyroidism<\/a>, where the thyroid gland can no longer make enough thyroid hormones<\/a> thyroxine (T4<\/a>) and triiodothyronine (T3<\/a>) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Johns Hopkins Hospital reports Hashimoto\u2019s thyroiditis accounted for 6% of all thyroidectomies from 1942 to 2012 [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The prevalence in the US is up to 4.6% and 2% in the general population [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Additionally, Hashimoto\u2019s is:<\/p>\n The following symptoms are commonly associated with ocular migraines but are insufficient for a diagnosis. Consult it with your doctor if you experience several of these symptoms for an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n Symptoms of Hashimoto\u2019s thyroiditis are not specific to the disease and may be confused with other autoimmune disorders. <\/strong>The most commonly observed symptoms include [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Other autoimmune diseases may occur alongside Hashimoto\u2019s [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n *Many patients with autoimmune thyroid disease also have celiac disease. Therefore, it may be prudent to get tested for celiac disease if some of the symptoms cannot be attributed to Hashimoto\u2019s thyroiditis [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Celiac disease patients have 2-4 times increased risk of developing Hashimoto\u2019s [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n There are two forms of Hashimoto\u2019s:<\/strong><\/p>\n Diagnosis of Hashimoto\u2019s thyroiditis is defined primarily by<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Thyroid-stimulating hormone<\/strong><\/a> (<\/strong>TSH<\/strong><\/a>)<\/strong> is a hormone made by the pituitary gland that causes the thyroid gland to make T4. It is the most commonly tested hormone to screen for hypothyroidism before other tests are done [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Generally, the higher the TSH levels, the lower the thyroid function [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The reference range is 0.27-4.2 IU\/ml [R<\/a>], but some studies used ranges as low as 0.2-2.5 mU\/L [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Thyroid hormones are also tested. The normal ranges for thyroid hormones are:<\/p>\n Antibodies against four different thyroid compounds can be found:<\/p>\n People with autoimmune thyroid disease symptoms will likely test positive for at least one thyroid antibody [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Those without thyroid diseases are not expected to have detectable levels of thyroid autoantibodies, although there are some exceptions.<\/p>\n Thyroid antibodies and their normal levels* [R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n *The study that defined these ranges considered anti-TPO <35 and anti-TG <40 as \u201cnegative.\u201d<\/p>\n Lab results are commonly shown as a set of values known as a \u201creference range\u201d, which is sometimes referred to as a \u201cnormal range\u201d. A reference range includes the upper and lower limits of a lab test based on a group of otherwise healthy people.<\/p>\n Your healthcare provider will compare your lab test results with reference values to see if any of your results fall outside the range of expected values. By doing so, you and your healthcare provider can gain clues to help identify possible conditions or diseases.<\/p>\n Some lab-to-lab variability occurs due to differences in equipment, techniques, and chemicals used. Don’t panic if your result is slightly out of range in the app – as long as it’s in the normal range based on the laboratory that did the testing, your value is normal.<\/em><\/p>\n However, it’s important to remember that a normal test doesn’t mean a particular medical condition is absent. Your doctor will interpret your results in conjunction with your medical history and other test results.<\/em><\/p>\n Have in mind that a single test isn’t enough to make a diagnosis. Your doctor will interpret this test, taking into account your medical history and other tests. A result that is slightly low\/high may not be of medical significance, as this test often varies from day to day and from person to person.<\/em><\/p>\n Thyroid ultrasound of individuals with hypothyroidism will likely show abnormal thyroid tissue. The doctor may also order a needle biopsy to sample the thyroid tissue and test for cancer [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\nHashimoto\u2019s Prevalence<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Hashimoto\u2019s Thyroiditis Symptoms<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Primary Tests for Diagnosis of Hashimoto\u2019s<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
1) High Levels of TSH and Low Levels of Thyroid Hormones<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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2) The Presence of Thyroid Hormone Antibodies<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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3) Ultrasound or Needle Biopsy of the Thyroid Gland<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n