Hyperthyroidism Flashcards
What are the signs + symptoms?
Brittle hair/hair loss
Reduced focus
Enlarged thyroid
Increased metabolism (weight loss)
Diarrhoea
Muscle weakness
Sweating
What can be a result of hyperthyroidism?
Graves’ disease
Nodular disease
Thyroiditis
What is Graves’ disease?
Eyelids retract
Bulging eyes
Redness
What is nodular disease?
Thyroid grows nodules
Single or multinodular goiter
Women over 60
What is thyroiditis?
Inflammation of thyroid follicles
What is thyroiditis caused by?
Infection, trauma, drug induced or autoimmune
= T3/T4 leak from inflamed cells
How do you diagnose?
Symptoms
TFTs
- TSH
- FT4
- FT3
TRABs
What does TFT show if hyperthyroidism of thyroidal origin?
TSH low
BUT FT4 + FT3 raised
What does a definitive diagnosis require?
2 sets of TFTs taken at least 6 weeks apart
What does TFT show if hyperthyroidism of extrathyroidal origin (pituitary/hypothalamic disease)?
TSH raised
FT3 + FT4 raised
What is thyroiditis confirmed with?
TRABs
What do you conduct if TRABs test comes back negative?
Radioactive iodine uptake scanning
What are the aims of treatment?
Acute = manage symptoms
Chronic = effectively supress thyroid hormone
What are the choices for treatment?
Antithyroid drugs
Radioactive iodine
Thyroidectomy
What is 1st line for Graves’ disease if likely to go into remission?
Thionamides
Carbimazole
What is 1st line for Graves’ disease if unlikely to go into remission?
Radioactive iodine
What is 1st line for Graves’ disease if concerns regarding compression/malignancy?
Thyroidectomy
What is 1st line for multinodular goitre?
Radioactive iodine
2nd line = thionamides/thyroidectomy
What is 1st line for single nodular?
Radioactive iodine/surgical intervention
2nd line = thionamides
What is 1st line in pregnancy?
Thionamides/propylthiouracil
2nd line = thyroidectomy
What is contraindicated in pregnancy + breastfeeding?
Radioactive iodine
= potentiate thyroid hormone release = precipitate thyroid crisis = teratogenic
What is 1st line for children with Grave’s disease?
Thionamides/carbimazole
What is 1st line for children with MNG/SN?
Thionamides
Long term = risk/benefits of radioactive iodine/thyroidectomy
What are the most common antithyroid (thionamides) drugs?
Thionamides
Carbimazole (1st line unless pregnant)
Propylthiouracil
How long does it take to see therapeutic effect with thionamides?
6-8 weeks