Hyperthyroidism Flashcards
what’s the difference between primary and secondary hyperthyroidism?
hyperthyroidism = clinical effect of excess thyroid hormone
primary: due to overactive thyroid
secondary: due to excess TSH
What’s the most common cause of hyperthyroidism?
Grave’s disease
What happens in Grave’s disease?
- autoimmune condition
- immune system produces thyroid stimulating autoantibodies
- stimulates thyroid + autoantigens in orbit
what is Plummer’s disease also known as?
Toxic multinodular goitre
what happens in toxic multi-nodular goitre?
- nodules develop in thyroid
- continuously produce excess thyroid hormone
what condition causes exophthalmos?
what accumulates under the skin in pretibial myxoedema?
what’s the common theme with hyperthyroidism symptoms?
what are first and second line drug treatments for hyperthyroidism?
1st line - carbimazole
2nd line - propylthiouracil (prevents T4 –> T3 conversion)
what class of drugs can be used to treat the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
beta blockers
what two things can be done if medication doesn’t work for hyperthyroidism?
- radioactive iodine drink - taken up by thyroid and kills the cells
- surgery
if a patient has a thyroidectomy, what drug will they need to be given to replace the thyroid hormones?
levothyroxine
how does carbimazole treat hyperthyroidism?
blocks T4 synthesis
how does carbimazole treat hyperthyroidism? (1st line)
prevents T4 synthesis
how does propylthiouracil treat hyperthyroidism? (2nd line)
prevents T4 –> T3 conversion
list some functions of thyroid hormone.
