Thyroid Disorders Flashcards
What can go wrong with the thyroid?
Decreased function - hypo Increased function - hyper Enlargement - nodular disease Inflammation (AutoAb) Cancer
Most common causes of hypothyroidism?
a. Iodine deficiency (most common worldwide)
In Aus:
b. Autoimmune chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (Hashimoto thyroiditis, atrophic thyroiditis)
c. Congenital: error in synthesis of thyroxine
d. Rx: surgery for hyper in the past
e. Transient: silent thyroiditis including postpartum thyroiditis (rebound hypothyroid phase when thyroid is damaged after inflammation e.g. virus)
Ix of hypothyroidism?
TSH: elevated
Free T3: low
Free T4: low
Thyroid Ab (anti-TPO, anti- thyroglobulin)
- Imaging is not indicated in hypothyroidism
- Consider a thyroid US only if there is a palpable goitre
- No need for nuclear scan
Sx of hypothyroidism - appearance
Puffy, pale facies Dry, brittle hair Dry, cool skin Thickened brittle nails Myxoedema
Sx of hypothyroidism - energy
Cold intolerance
Weight gain
Fatigue
Sx of hypothyroidism - nervous system
Headache
Sx of hypothyroidism - cognitive
d
Sx of hypothyroidism - Cardiovascular
d
Sx of hypothyroidism -
d
Sx of hypothyroidism -
d
Sx of hypothyroidism -
d
What is the difference between primary and secondary hypothyroidism?
Primary hypothyroidism - pathology of thyroid itself
(raised TSH, low free T3/T4)
Secondary hypothyroidism - pathology of higher centre (anterior pituitary - low TSH, low free T3, T4)
Rx of hypothyroidism
Thyroxine - 75-150mcg/day single dose (if young, healthy, pregnant)
Aim for TSH in low normal range
If patient has IHD or elderly, start with smaller dose at 25 mcg/day
Rx of hypothyroidism
What is the 1/2 life of treatment and how does that affect follow up?
What are the modifying factors of Rx?
Thyroxine - 75-150mcg/day single dose (if young, healthy, pregnant)
Half life: 1 week therefore steady state app. 6-8 weeks, only do blood test and adjust thyroxine dose after 6-8 weeks
Aim for TSH in low normal range
Modifying factors:
If patient has IHD or elderly, start with smaller dose at 25 mcg/day
What medications decrease thyroxine absorption?
Fe tablets, Ca tablets, antacids, cholestyramine
There is usually no hurry in hypothyrodism Rx except in…?
Pregnancy
Ix of hypothyroidism?
TSH: elevated
Free T3: low
Free T4: low
Thyroid Ab (anti-TPO, anti- thyroglobulin)
- Recheck TFTs after 6 weeks (except in pregnancy)
- Imaging is not indicated in hypothyroidism
- Consider a thyroid US only if there is a palpable goitre
- No need for nuclear scan
There is usually no hurry in hypothyrodism Rx except in…?
Pregnancy
T/F recheck TFTs later than 6 weeks
True - no point checking earlier
T/F adjust Rx earlier than 6 weeks
False - half life of thyroxine is 1 week therefore steady state is reached at 6-8 weeks (no point checking before)