Thyroid Disease - Final Exam Flashcards
What is cretinism?
Is a condition of severely stunted physical and mental growth owing to untreated congenital deficiency of thyroid hormone (congenital hypothyroidism) usually owing to maternal hypothyroidism.
What are problems that come with cretinism? (2)
- Bone maturation (delayed or permanent)
2. Permanent lack of brain development
How can you treat cretinism?
This can be permanent unless you are given TH immediately to try and cure it
What are 3 possible causes of cretinism?
- Anti-TSH receptor antibodies from mother (so mother has Hashimotos disease)
- Sever iodine deficiency
- Defect in bodys thyroid axis
Why are babies heels pricked?
To test and see if they have a health issues
What happens to the baby if the mother has untreated hypothyroid disease?
The disabilities in the babies development cannot be reversed with treatment after the 2nd trimester
What do human fetuses acquire for proper development? (2)
- The ability to synthesize TH early on
2. Substantial transfer of maternal TH across the placenta
What does the placenta contain?
Deiodinases
What can deiodinases convert?
T4 to T3
What does hypothyroidism in either the mother or fetus result in?
Fetal diseases
- Includes a high incidence of brain development disability
What is the net effect of pregnancy on the thyroid gland?
Increase demand on the thyroid gland
What is effect the most by TH on the terminal stages of brain differentiation? (5)
- Synaptogenesis
- Growth of dendrites
- Axons
- Myelination
- Neural migration
What are the different terminal stages of brain development regulated by?
TH
What is the far most common preventable cause of mental disability in the world?
Iodine deficiency
What happens if you dont get adequate iodine intake? (2)
- Both mother and fetus develop hypothyroidism
- Could lead to cretinism with intellectual disability, deaf-mutism and spasticity
What effect does iodine deficiency have on animals? (3)
- High incidences of still births
- Small offspring
- Weak offspring
What is recommended to avoid iodine deficiency when pregnant?
To take prenatal vitamins/mineral supplements
What is goiter associated with?
Overstimulation of thyroid gland causing enlargement
What are possible causes for goiter? (3)
- Lack of iodine in diet (low salt)
- Drug blocking
- Autoimmune disease