Hyperthyroidism & Disorders Flashcards
2 potential causes of hyperthyroidism?
Graves’ disease
Plummer’s disease (nodular goitre)
What is the difference between the 2 potential causes of hyperthyroidism?
Graves’ disease - autoimmune!
Abs bind to & stimulate TSH receptors in the thyroid gland
Plummer’s disease - NOT autoimmune - due to benign adenoma
Link between autoimmune & thyroid diseases?
Can cause BOTH HYPO and HYPER thyroidism
What does Graves’ disease cause?
x Goitre (smooth!) - thyroid gland grows
x Hyperthyroidism
x Lid lag
x Exophthalmos - Abs bind to muscles behind the eye = bulging
x Pretibial myxoedema (hypertrophy) - growth of soft tissue on the shins! (non-pitting!!)
What causes lid lag?
In Graves’s Disease
2 nerves open the eye (one is under SN control) - thyroxine makes the beta adrenoceptors more sensitive to adrenaline which causes the eyelid to open/be pulled back
Leads to apparent SNS activation - tachycardia, lid lag, palpitations etc.
3 things the Abs cause in Graves’ Disease?
x Goitre
x Exophthalmos
x Pretibial myxoedema
2 parts to exophthalmos?
- Eye lid is OPEN due to the thyroxine-causing adrenaline (lid lag)
- Eyeball is pushed forward due to the GFs in the Abs
What causes a smooth goitre?
Graves’ Disease
Abs bind to the TSH receptors on the follicular cells - makes them work harder & GROW SMOOTHLY!
How can Graves’ Disease be seen in a scan?
Radioactive iodine given and scan!
WHOLE gland is overactive as Abs bind to all gland (OneNote!!)
What does Plummer’s disease cause?
x TOXIC NODULAR goitre (NOT smooth!)
x Benign adenoma - overactive at making thyroxine
Difference between Graves’ and Plummer’s Disease?
Plummer’s Disease:
x NO pretibial myxoedema
x NO exophthalmos
x Goitre is a toxic nodular
Signs & symptoms of GENERAL hyperthyroidism?
x Weight loss x Increased appetite x Palpitations x Tachycardia x Sweating/Palpitations x Heat intolerance x Diarrhoea x Lid Lag
How can Plummer’s Disease be diagnosed?
Will NOT feel a smoothly enlarged goitre:
- One clone of follicular cells grow to form the tumour
- All the follicular cells then make thyroxine
How can Plummer’s Disease be seen in a scan?
In radioactive iodine scan, will see part of the thyroid gland as tumour!
Normal thyroid gland becomes SMALLER as the PG STOPS making TSH (-ve feedback!)
Another name for Plummer’s Disease as not used as much anymore?
Nodular Goitre (‘Hot nodule’)
Link between thyroxine & SN?
Sensitive beta adrenoceptors to levels of A & NA
So apparent SN activation - tachycardia, palpitations, tremor in hands, lid lag etc
What is a thyroid storm?
It is a medical emergency (50% mortality is untreated)
Blood results confirm hyperthyroidism