Clinically, thyroiditis is divided into acute, subacute, and chronic forms, and patients may present either with severe thyroid pain (e.g., acute suppurative thyroiditis, subacute de Quervain’s thyroiditis, radiation-induced thyroiditis, traumatic thyroiditis) or without evident inflammation, but with goiter or thyroid dysfunction (e.g., silent thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s or Riedel’s thyroiditis). Chronic thyroiditis comprises a group of diseases that can present with strikingly similar symptoms. This frequently poses a diagnostic dilemma to uncover the exact etiology. These patients may present with hyper- or hypothyroid symptoms with subtle differences depending on the etiology. A thorough history-taking and physical examination is the key to uncover these subtle differences. Chronic thyroiditis is caused by several factors, most commonly autoimmune diseases. Thyroid autoantibodies are mainly directed against thyroid peroxidase (TPO) or thyroglobulin (Tg), and have an association with defined HLA haplotypes implying a genetic predisposition. Iodine therapy, viral infections, pregnancy, menopause, stress, and immune-modulating drugs such as interferon-alpha (IFN-α) have also been linked to autoimmune thyroiditis. Except for Graves’ disease, most cases of autoimmune thyroiditis present initially with hyperthyroidism that returns to euthyroidism or falls to permanent hypothyroidism (subclinical or overt). This chapter discusses the etiology, clinical presentation, investigations (work-up), diagnosis, and treatment of the various causes of chronic thyroiditis.

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Chronic Thyroiditis: Overview

  • Mahmoud Sakr

摘要

Clinically, thyroiditis is divided into acute, subacute, and chronic forms, and patients may present either with severe thyroid pain (e.g., acute suppurative thyroiditis, subacute de Quervain’s thyroiditis, radiation-induced thyroiditis, traumatic thyroiditis) or without evident inflammation, but with goiter or thyroid dysfunction (e.g., silent thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s or Riedel’s thyroiditis). Chronic thyroiditis comprises a group of diseases that can present with strikingly similar symptoms. This frequently poses a diagnostic dilemma to uncover the exact etiology. These patients may present with hyper- or hypothyroid symptoms with subtle differences depending on the etiology. A thorough history-taking and physical examination is the key to uncover these subtle differences. Chronic thyroiditis is caused by several factors, most commonly autoimmune diseases. Thyroid autoantibodies are mainly directed against thyroid peroxidase (TPO) or thyroglobulin (Tg), and have an association with defined HLA haplotypes implying a genetic predisposition. Iodine therapy, viral infections, pregnancy, menopause, stress, and immune-modulating drugs such as interferon-alpha (IFN-α) have also been linked to autoimmune thyroiditis. Except for Graves’ disease, most cases of autoimmune thyroiditis present initially with hyperthyroidism that returns to euthyroidism or falls to permanent hypothyroidism (subclinical or overt). This chapter discusses the etiology, clinical presentation, investigations (work-up), diagnosis, and treatment of the various causes of chronic thyroiditis.