Which type of thyroiditis is an immune disorder

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common type of this health problem. It is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when your body makes antibodies that attack the cells in your thyroid. The thyroid then can't make enough of the thyroid hormone. Many people with this problem have an underactive thyroid gland.

That's also known as hypothyroidism. They have to take medicine to keep their thyroid hormone levels normal. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder. Normally, your autoimmune system protects your body by attacking bacteria and viruses.

But with this disease, your immune system attacks your thyroid gland by mistake. Your thyroid then can't make enough thyroid hormone, so your body can't work as well. This is an enlargement of your thyroid gland. It causes a bulge on your neck. It is not cancer. But it can cause problems like pain or trouble with swallowing, breathing, or speaking. When the thyroid is attacked by antibodies, it may at first make more thyroid hormone. This is called Hashitoxicosis.

Over time, the dose you need to adequately replace your thyroid function may change. Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder in which your immune system creates antibodies that damage your thyroid gland. Doctors don't know what causes your immune system to attack your thyroid gland. Some scientists think a virus or bacterium might trigger the response, while others believe a genetic flaw may be involved. A combination of factors — including heredity, sex and age — may determine your likelihood of developing the disorder.

Left untreated, an underactive thyroid gland hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto's disease can lead to a number of health problems:. Myxedema miks-uh-DEE-muh. This rare, life-threatening condition can develop due to long-term severe hypothyroidism as a result of untreated Hashimoto's disease.

Its signs and symptoms include drowsiness followed by profound lethargy and unconsciousness. A myxedema coma may be triggered by exposure to cold, sedatives, infection or other stress on your body.

Myxedema requires immediate emergency medical treatment. Birth defects. Babies born to women with untreated hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's disease may have a higher risk of birth defects than do babies born to healthy mothers. Doctors have long known that these children are more prone to intellectual and developmental problems. Autoimmune Thyroid Disease and Neoplasms Thyroiditis and thyroid antibodies are found in a quarter to a third of the patients with thyroid cancer [ 91 ].

Autoimmune Thyroid Disease and Kidney Disorder Endocrine abnormalities have been reported in patients with kidney diseases [ 94 ]. Conclusion Autoimmune thyroid disease occurs as a result of a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank all the staff members of the Department of Pathology, Moi Teaching, and Referral Hospital for their assistance during the writing of this review.

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Fountoulakis, G. Vartholomatos, N. Kolaitis, S. Frillingos, G. Philippou, and A. Tomer, Y. Ban, E. Conception et al. Prescribed in pill form for many years, this medicine is now also available as a liquid and in a soft gel capsule. Some foods and supplements can affect how well your body absorbs levothyroxine. Examples include grapefruit juice, espresso coffee, soy, and multivitamins that contain iron or calcium.

Your doctor may ask you to take the levothyroxine in the morning, 30 to 60 minutes before you eat your first meal. Your doctor will give you a blood test about 6 to 8 weeks after you begin taking the medicine and adjust your dose if needed. Never stop taking your medicine or take a higher dose without talking with your doctor first. Taking too much thyroid hormone medicine can cause serious problems, such as atrial fibrillation or osteoporosis. Your hypothyroidism can be well-controlled with thyroid hormone medicine, as long as you take the medicine as instructed by your doctor and have regular follow-up blood tests.

The thyroid uses iodine, a mineral in some foods, to make thyroid hormones. Eating foods that have large amounts of iodine—such as kelp, dulse, or other kinds of seaweed, and certain iodine-rich medicines—may cause hypothyroidism or make it worse.