Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders

What are autoimmune thyroid disorders?

Autoimmune thyroid disorders are conditions where the immune system attacks your thyroid gland. The immune system is your body's defense system against infections and diseases. A problem with the immune system may make your body attack even its own cells, including your thyroid gland. When this happens, the thyroid gland cannot work correctly. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ that is found in the front part of your neck. Thyroid hormones help control how your body works. This includes heart rate, growth, and keeping a normal body temperature. The thyroid hormones also control how your body uses energy, and affects weight gain and loss. Autoimmune thyroid disorders often affect people between 20 and 50 years of age, especially women.

What are the causes of autoimmune thyroid disorders?

These conditions may be inherited (something you are born with). Having a family member with autoimmune disease may also increase your risk. Having too much or too little iodine in your diet, stress, infections, and heavy smoking may also cause these conditions.

What are the types of autoimmune thyroid disorders?

Grave's disease:

Grave's disease is the most common type of hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland makes too much of the thyroid hormones. Problems with the eyes, skin and hair are more common with Grave's disease. The eyes may bulge out more than usual. There may also be swelling of the skin over the legs.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis:

This is the most common type of autoimmune thyroid disorder causing hypothyroidism. With this disorder, you have low levels of thyroid hormones in your blood. The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism may appear slowly over many years. With time, your skin may feel dry, and may not return to the right shape when you pinch it. Your face may swell and your tongue may enlarge. There may be mental changes such as becoming forgetful or easily confused, or you may have problems with balance and walking.

Postpartum thyroiditis:

This condition appears right after or within a year after giving birth to a baby. It may also be seen after a miscarriage or abortion. Ask your caregiver for more information about postpartum thyroiditis.

Silent sporadic thyroiditis:

With this condition, you may have symptoms of hyperthyroidism at first, followed by hypothyroidism after a few months. Signs and symptoms are mild and may be seen for a while, then may disappear over time.

What are the signs and symptoms of autoimmune thyroid disorders?

You may have goiter (enlarged thyroid gland) that feels like a lump on the neck. You may have signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. You may also have signs and symptoms of both conditions.

Hyperthyroidism:

Feel nervous, restless, and cannot stay still for long periods.

Feel hot and tired, and sweat easily.

Have diarrhea (loose bowel movements).

Have tremors and fast heart beats even when you are resting.

Have weight loss and always feel hungry even after eating most of the time.

Your eyes bulge out more than the usual.

Hypothyroidism:

Have body weakness, or muscle or joint pains.

Have dry, flaky skin or thin and brittle fingernails or hair.

Have hoarseness or change in voice or speech.

Have too much and too sudden weight gain.

Have sleepiness or problems thinking clearly, such as being forgetful and easily confused.

Have very slow heartbeat and trouble breathing.

How are autoimmune thyroid disorders diagnosed?

You may need any of the following:

Blood tests:

You may need blood taken for tests. These tests tell your caregiver how high or how low the levels of thyroid hormones are in your blood. This information may also be used to see how well any treatments are working.

Fine needle biopsy:

This is a procedure where a very small piece of your thyroid gland is taken for tests. A biopsy checks for problems such as thyroid cancer. Your caregiver may use medicine to numb the front part of your neck. A small needle is inserted to get the tissue sample from your thyroid gland. After the sample is collected, a bandage may cover the biopsy area, and the sample is sent to the lab for tests.

Thyroid scan:

This test shows caregivers how well your thyroid is working. Radioactive dye is put into your IV or is given to you to drink. The working part of the thyroid gland absorbs (soaks up) the dye. Two to 48 hours later, caregivers put a machine called a scintillator over your neck. The machine takes pictures showing the areas of your thyroid that absorbed the dye.

Thyroid ultrasound:

This is a test that looks at the inside of your thyroid gland. Sound waves are used to show pictures of your thyroid gland on a TV-like screen.

How are autoimmune thyroid disorders treated?

Treatment will depend on your health, age, and the level of your thyroid hormones. You may need any of the following:

Medicines:

Thyroid medicines:

These medicines are given to replace, increase, or decrease your thyroid hormone levels back to normal. They may also be given to control signs and symptoms that you may have.

Others:

Medicine to treat very fast heartbeats, nervousness, too much sweating, and trembling may be given. If another condition causes or occurs with your autoimmune thyroid disease, it will also be treated.

Radioactive iodine:

Iodine is an important mineral used by the thyroid gland to work properly. The thyroid gland is the only organ in the body that can absorb iodine. A radioactive form of iodine is given to damage or kill some thyroid gland cells and treat hyperthyroidism. This may decrease the amount of thyroid hormone made by the thyroid gland. This is not given to pregnant or breast feeding women.

Surgery:

The thyroid gland is removed for those who cannot have radioactive iodine medicine. This is also done for very young children, pregnant women and those with thyroid eye disease. You may be given antithyroid medicine, iodine, or both for several months before surgery. These medicines will decrease your symptoms and make the thyroid gland smaller before surgery.

What other diseases may also occur with autoimmune thyroid disorders?

Blood problems such as anemia (decreased red blood cells).

Breast cancer.

Diabetes (high sugar level in the blood).

Joint problems such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Skin and hair problems, such as dermatitis and vitiligo (white patches on your skin).

Where can I find more information?

Having an autoimmune thyroid disorder is hard. You and those close to you may feel scared, angry, or sad. These are normal feelings. Talk to your caregivers, family, or friends about your feelings. Contact the following for more information:

American Thyroid Association
6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 550
Falls Church, VA 22041
703-998-8890
800-849-7643
www.thyroid.org