HASHIMOTO THYROIDITIS: A COMMON CAUSE OF HYPOTHYROIDISM

Course overview

A very common cause of hypothyroidism in North America is Hashimoto thyroiditis. This disorder is characterized by destruction of the thyroid gland by an antibody-mediated immune response. In Hashimoto thyroiditis, several types of antibodies attack the thyroid cells. However, about 25% of patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis will be antibody negative. The disorder is at least five to 10 times more common in females than in males. The peak incidence is between the ages of 30 and 50. In men, the peak incidence is at least a decade later. The overall incidence of hypothyroidism increases with age in both men and women. Once Hashimoto thyroiditis has caused the thyroid gland to stop functioning and hypothyroidism sets in, hormone replacement therapy is required. The goal of hormone replacement is to restore a clinical, physiological and biochemical euthyroid state.