Treatment of Autoimmune Thyroiditis (hashimoto Disease)

About the disease

Autoimmune thyroiditis, also known as Hashimoto's disease, is an autoimmune disease that damages the thyroid gland. The immune system starts to fight against itself, affecting various organs and systems of the human body. Autoimmune thyroiditis develops when the thyroid gland is unable to produce the required amount of thyroid hormones. It usually happens when an excessive amount of lymphocytes accumulate in the thyroid gland, causing antibodies to activate the autoimmune process. As a result, the amount of thyroid hormones produced dramatically decreases and the patient experiences fatigue.

Overall, the role of thyroid hormones is very important. They are responsible for controlling the body’s metabolism and regulating energy. When there are not enough thyroid hormones in the bloodstream, all of the body’s organs are affected, which causes an overall deterioration in the sufferer’s health. Changes in weight are also very common. Autoimmune thyroiditis is most common in women aged between 30-50. Although the exact cause of this disease is still unknown, many doctors believe that a genetic predisposition may play a key role.

Symptoms

• The thyroid gland becomes enlarged, causing the neck to swell
• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Slow heart beat
• Problems with menstruation in women
• Muscle pain

Diagnosis

• During a general examination, a doctor will examine the patient’s neck and enquire whether he or she has recently noticed a change in their weight.
• A blood test is used to measure the amount of white blood cells in the patient’s bloodstream.
• A TSH test can precisely measure the thyroid gland’s activity and determine whether there are any abnormalities in the production of the thyroid hormones.
• An ultrasound is used to see if the thyroid gland has become enlarged in size due to this disease.

Treatment

• Conservative treatment is the most commonly used treatment for autoimmune thyroiditis. It uses a drug, known as synthetic thyroxine, which gives the patient enough thyroid hormone to regulate their metabolism. Synthetic thyroxine needs to be taken regularly to have a beneficial effect.
• Diet is also an important part of balancing the amount of thyroid hormone and needs to be followed strictly to normalize the patient’s metabolism. Physical exercise is also recommended.

Authors: Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko