Hypothyroidism Flashcards
What is the name of the drug used that acts as synthetic T4?
Levothyroxine
Where do problems originate in secondary hypothyroidism?
Pituitary/hypothalamus
What is the name of the autoimmune condition that causes hypothyroidism?
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
What are the two hypothyroiditic conditions that would cause a goitre?
Hashimoto’s
Iodine deficency
What is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the Western World?
Hashimoto’s
How does Hashimoto’s work?
Gradual (over years) destruction of the thyroid gland leads to decreased T3+T4
What antibody should be tested for with Hashimoto’s?
Anti-TPO
Describe the differences in thyroid hormone levels in primary and secondary hypothyroidsm?
Primary - High TSH and low T3+T4
Secondary - low TSH and low T3+T4
Name 2 causes of non-goitrous hypothyroidism
Atrophic hypothyroidism
Post surgery/radioablation
What is the medical emergency associated with hypothyroidism?
Who does it most commonly affect?
How does it present?
How is it managed?
Myxoedema coma
Elderly females with long standing/untreated hypothyroidism
Hypothermia
Bradycardias/heart block
Type 2 resp failure
Oedema
ABCDE
Slow titration onto levothyroxine (too quick could lead to arrythmias)
What are the symptoms that would present with hypothyroidism assocaited with the following systems:
- Cardiac
- Skin and hair
- CNS
- MSK
- GI
- Reproductive
- Temp tolerance
Cardiac
- low HR
- cardiac dilation
Skin + hair
- dull complexion
- coarse and sparse hair
- assoc. with vitiligo
CNS
- depression
- impaired cognitive abilities
MSK
- pitting oedema
GI
- constipation
- ascietes
Reproductive
- menorrhagia (abnormally heavy/long)
Temp tolerance
- intolerance to cold - always feel cold
When should levothyroxine be taken?
First thing in the morning on an empty stomach
What condition are you at increased risk of with Hashimoto’s?
MALT lymphoma
When levothyroxine is administered, what is measured to check response?
TSH
