Thyroid Flashcards
descirbe primary thyroid disease
disease affecting thyroid gland itself
autoimmune thyroid disease most common
describe scondary thyroid disease
hypothalmic or pituitary disease
no thyroid gland pathology
what is TSH
thyroid stimulating hormone
where is TSH released?
thyrotroph cells in anterior pituitary
TSH is released in response to what?
thyrotropin releasing hormone TRH
TSH is also called what?
thyrotropin
release of TSH results in what?
production of T3 and T4
99% of T4 and T3 is bound to what?
plasma proteins
what plasma proteins do T3 and T4 bind to?
Thyroxine Binding Globulin (TBG)- 70%
Transthyretin (TTR)- 20%
Albumin- 5%
what levels of free T3/4 and TSH would be seeen in primary hypothyroidism
free T3/4 low
TSH high
what levels of T3/4 and TSH would be seen in primary hyperthyroidism?
free T3/4 high
TSH low
what si the difference between primary and secondary thyroid disease?
primary- problem with thyroid gland iself
secondary- problem with hypothalmus/pituitary
what levels of T3/4 and TSH would be seen in secondary hypothyroidism?
low free T3/4
TSH low (or normal)
what levels of free T3/4 and TSH would be seen in secondary hyperthyroidism?
free T3/4 high
TSH high (or normal)
define myxoedema
severe hypothyroidism
pretibial myxoedema is a rare clinical sign in which autoimmune thyroid condition?
Graves disease
graves disease results in hypo/hyperthyroidism?
hyperthyroidism
what are soem goitrous causes of hypothyroidism?
hashimotos thyroiditis
iodine deficiency
what are some non-goitrous causes of hypothyroidism?
atrophic thyroiditis
post radiotherapy
what would be a self-limiting cause of hyperthyroidism?
withdrawl of antithyroid drugs
describe hashimotos thyroiditis?
autoimmune destruction of thyroid gland and reduced thyroid hormone productioin
hashimotos is characterised by which antibodies?
antibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPO)
what is seen microscopically in hashimotos?
T cell infiltrate
inflammation
what is prescribed to people with hypothyroidism?
levothyroxine
how soon should TSH levels be checked once started on thyroxine in hypothyroidism?
2 months after any dose change
once established how often should TSH be checked?
12-18 months
when should levothyroxine be taken to try and prevent problems with absorption?
before eating
before any other medications
what is thyrotoxixosis?
the state when you have too much thyroxine
what is hyperthyroidism?
condition where you get thyrotoxic due to thyroid gland pathology
how cna graves disease affect your bones?
osteoporosis
over 90% of people with Graves will have detectable levels of which antibody?
TRAb- TSH receptor antobody