hyroidism and Related Issues
Hyperthroidism has multiple causes and one is thyroiditis. Inflamed thyroid glands or thyroiditis have more than one cause and are associated with normal, elevated, or depressed thyroid function. Causes of thyroiditis, and in some cases hyperthroidism, include infection, trauma, radiation, medications, autoimmune conditions, or idiopathic fibrotic process. Thus, patients with throiditis may have hyperthroidism, hypothyroidism, or euthroidism. Hyperthroidism is found in half of the patients with throiditis. This condition takes place with activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes, damage to thyroid follicular cells, and resulting unregulated releases of large amounts of throxine and triiodothyronine into the blood stream. Once thyroid stores are depleted, the process ends which takes from three to six weeks. Typically patients demonstrate a three-phase sequence with initial phases of hyperthyroidism and elevated free T[sub 4] and suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. This is followed by hypothryodism and low free T[sub 4] and high TSH levels lasting from weeks to six months. Next patients typically return to euthyroidism after about six to 12 months. When this course of events does not take place as in up to 15% of patients, hypothyroidism continues and long-term levothyroxine therapy is required. If a patient is between stages and demonstrating low TSH and free T[sub 4] levels, central hypothyroidism may be mistakenly diagnosed. Hyperthyroidism due to thyroiditis is differentiated from hyperthryoidism with Graves' disease. Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthroidism (Grosso, Traino, Boni, et al 218). These patients demonstrate hypervasculairty changes (Bindra and Braunstein 1770).
Hyperthyroidism presents with varying symptoms
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