Thyroid disease Flashcards
what is primary thyroid disease
disease affecting the thyroid gland itself
can occur with or with our goitre
what is secondary thyroid disease
thyroid gland is fine
something else isn’t working eg. hypothalamus or pituitary gland disease
what is TSH
a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland to stimulate thyroid hormone secretion in the thyroid
(Also called thyrotrophin)
What percent of thyroid hormone is T4
80%
T4 is not active and gets changed to T3 in the cells
What percent of thyroid hormone is T3
20%
4x more potent
what transporter hormones do T3 and T4 bind to
Thyroxine binding globulin
thyroxine binding pre-albumin
albumin
where is most of the T4 converted to T3
The liver
what happens to free T3 and T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone in primary hypothyroidism
Low T3 and T4
High TSH to try and increase the thyroid hormone levels
what happens to free T3 and T4 and TSH in primary hyperthyroidism
Free T3/4 is high
TSH drops to try and stop the thyroid gland producing too much thyroxine
what happens to T3/4 and TSH in secondary hypothyroidism
reduces TSH production (due to something in the pituitary or hypothalamus not working)
subsequently also had low T3/T4
what happens to T3/4 and TSH in secondary hyperthyroidism
vvv rare - due to a problem in pituitary gland where TSH is secreted too much and doesn’t respond to negative feedback (could be from a rare tumour)
TSH is high so free T4/T3 is high
what does hypothyroidism describe
any disorder resulting in insufficient secretion of thyroid hormones
what does myxoedema describe
severe hypothyroidism and is a medical emergency (severe under active)
what does pretibial myxoedema describe
Rare clinical sign of grave’s disease which results from hyperthyroidism
what populations have higher incidence of hypothyroidism
white populations
women
older
what causes goitrous primary hypothyroidism
chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis) iodine deficiency Drug induces maternally transmitted (mum on anti-thyroid drugs when pregnant) Hereditary biosynthetic defects
what causes non-goitrous primary hypothyroidism
atrophic thyroiditis
positive-ablative therapy (radio iodine, surgery)
post-radiotherapy
congenital defect
what causes SECONDARY hypothyroidism
disease of the pituitary and hypothalamus glands -infiltrative -infectious -malignant -traumatic -congenital -cranial radiotherapy -drug-induced
what is autoimmune hypothyridism
autoimmune conditions which attack the hypothalamus and pituitary
most common cause in western world
often family history
antibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPO)
what are the 3 stages in the progression of hypothyroidism
euthyroid
mild thyroid failure
overt hypothyroidism
what are some clinical features of hypothyroidism
hair and skin
- coarse, sparse hair
- dull expressionless face
- periorbital puffiness
- pale cool skin that feels doughy to touch
- vitiligo may be present
- hypercarotenaemia
cold intolerance
pitting oedema
reduced heart rate
cardiac dilation
pericardial effusion
worsening of heart failure
hyperlipidaemia
decreased appetite
weight gain
constipation
deep house voice
macroglossia
obstructive sleep apnoea
decreases intellectual and motor activities muscle stiffness, cramps peripheral neuropathy prolongation of tendon jerks carpal tunnel
heavier periods
What are the lab investigations seen in hypothyroidism
Increased TSH
Decreased free T4/3
increases macrocytosis
increases creatine kinase
increases LDL-cholesterol
hypoantaemia (decreases renal water loss)
hyperprolactinaemia (increased TRH increases PRL)