Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid disease that affects approximately 5 percent of the adult population, and is seen increasingly in women as they grow older. In a patient with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, autoantibodies and the cytotoxic cell mediated immune response work to attack and destroy the patient's own thyroid tissue. This damage to the thyroid gland results in hypothyroidism, or thyroid underactivity. Hashimoto's patients may experience tiredness, forgetfulness, depression, coarse dry skin, slow heartbeat, weight gain, goiter, intolerance to cold or constipation. These symptoms describe a metabolism slowdown, driven by a loss in thyroid hormone production. Hashimoto's Thyroiditis may begin as mild thyrotoxicosis, but can progress to overt hypothyroidism and myxedema.

A Hashimoto's Thyroiditis patient would present with elevated TSH values and possibly low thyroid hormone levels characteristic of hypothyroidism. However, a high concentration of thyroid autoantibodies (TPOAb in particular) is the distinguishing evidence for a diagnosis of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Greater than 90 percent of all Hashimoto's Thyroiditis patients are positive for TPOAb. A Radioactive Iodine Uptake Test (RAIU) would also demonstrate a low uptake rate.

Treatment for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis will include thyroid hormone replacement therapy and regular monitoring by a physician to insure proper hormone levels are maintained.

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For More Information

• American Thyroid Association
• Thyroid Foundation of Canada
• National Graves' Disease Foundation
• Gland Central
• American Association of Clinical Chemistry (Clinical Chemistry Journal)
• The Endocrine Society
• CLIANet (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)
• NCCLS (National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards)