Thyroid PATHO Flashcards
Synthesis of Thyroid Hormone
- Iodide active transport into follicular cells
- peroxidase enzyme oxidizes to iodine (blocked by MMI)
- Thyroglobulin combines iodine and tyrosine to make mono/di-iodotyrosine
- Coupling to make T3 (triiodothyronine) or T4 (tetraiodothyronine) (blocked by MMI)
- Stored in colloid cells (1 month supply)
- T4 converted to T3 in periphery (blocked by PTU and cortisol)
Drugs that block peripheral conversion of T4 to T3
- Propylthiouracil
- Cortisol
Amount of T4 vs. T3
Compare half lives and fate
Majority secreted thyroid hormone is T4
T4 protein bound
half life 7 days
heptaic metabolism
converted to periphery into T3
80% T3 comes from T4
T3 free
half life is 1 day
hepatic metabolism
minority secreted hormone is free T3
Three Biological Functions
Thyroid Hormone
- Energy
- Increase BMR
- increase heat production
- increase breakdown of glycogen, lipid, muscle, bone
- increase oxygen consumption and demand - Growth and development
- bone, muscles, CNS
- essential for normal development
- screen in pregnancy and neonates - Heart
- Increase cardiac output, heart rate, conduction, contraciltity
- increase oxygen demand and consumption
MOA
Thyroid hormone
T3 bioactive form
transcription factor
binds DNA (more tightly than T4)
gene expression
influences BMR, cardiac, growth and development
Negative feedback loop
hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid
- Hypothalalmus
- releases thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) - Pituitary
- releases thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) from anterior pituitary - Thyroid gland
- binds to thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) - Increase iodide uptake
- hypertrophy gland
- Increase synthesis thyroid hormone
- increase secretion thyroid hormone
Thyroid hormone
- T3 and T4
- negatively feedback to decrease release TSH and TRH
How does a goitre develop?
Excess stimulation of the thyroid gland by TSH
Results in gland hypertrophy
Ex.
primary hypothyroidism
secondary hyperthyroidism
Serum tests to assess Thyroid function
TSH thyroid stimulating hormone
Free T3 and Free T4
*Low TSH = secondary hypothyroidism
*high TSH, low T3 and low T4 = primary hypothyroidism
High T3 = hyperthyroidism
Two types of Hypothyroidism
Example causes
- primary hypothyroidism
- thyroid gland dysfunction
Examples
- Iatrogenic: surgery, radioactive iodine, amiodarone, lithium
- congenital hypothyroidism
- iodine deficiency
- autoimmune (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, postpartum thyroiditis, silent painless thyroiditis)
- Subacute painful thyroiditis (De Quevain’s Thyroiditis) ; Acute painful thyroiditis (infection)
- secondary hypothyroidism
- outside of the thyroid gland
- pituitary or hypothalamus gland dysfunction
Examples
- tumour
- hemorrhage, clot: stroke
- brain surgery
- trauma
Clinical S&S
Hypothyroidism
CNS: fatigue, lethargy, depression, sleep disturbances, decrease IQ
Cardio: Decrease CO, BP, HR, decreased peripheral perfusion
Energy: Decrease BMR, hypoglycaemia, weight gain, constipation, brittle hair, skin, nails, pale puffy face, peripheral edema, cool extremities, cold intolerance
Fertility: infertility, heavy menstruation
Laboratory diagnostics
Hypothyroidism
Primary hypothyroidism
- High TSH
- Low free T3 and Low free T4
- *goitre
Secondary hypothyroidism
- Hypothalamus: Low TRH -> low TSH -> Low T3 and T4
- Pituitary: High TRH -> low TSH -> low T3 and T4
- *no goitre
Life threatening complication of
Untreated Hypothyroidism
Myexedema Coma
Triggers: Stress, trauma, opioid use, sedatives, infection, *old age high risk
Medical emergency:
- Decreased LOC, coma
- Hypothermia (non-shivering)
- Hypotension (hypovolemic shock)
- Hipoglicemia
- Lactic acidosis
- Death
Pharmacological treatment
Hypothyroidism
Levothyroxine (T4)
Lifelong therapy
Most common thyroid disorder
hypothyroidism
females > males
Examples of Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Auto-immune Thyroiditis
- Hashimoto’s
- Silent painless
- post-partum (up to 1 year)
Infectious
- De Quervain thyroiditis (post viral infection)
- Acute infectious thyroiditis (bacterial infection)
*painful
Clinical Course of Thyroiditis
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Euthyroidism OR hypothyroidism sustained
Hyperthyroidism
- inflammation of the thyroid gland
- causes release of stored thyroid hormone
- thyrotoxicosis like symptoms
- fever, swelling gland, enlargement, painful/painless, thyrotoxicosis
S&S Thyrotoxicosis:
palpitations, tachycardia, tremors, sweating, heat intolerance, racing thoughts, insomnia, etc.
Hypothyroidism
- gland unable to function (synthesize and secrete thyroid hormone)
S&S hypothyroidism
lethargy, fatigue, depression, confusion, dry skin, brittle hair, nails, hypoglycaemia, cold intolerance, constipation, low BP, HR, CO, pale periphery, edema
Duration hormone replacement
6-12 months
trial period off medication to see if euthyroid OR permanent
Pharmacological treatment thyroiditis
Subacute/painful thyroiditis (De Quervain post viral thyroiditis) & acute infectious thyroiditis (bacterial infection)
- antibiotics
- NSAIDS, corticosteroids for pain
Hypothyroid phase
- thyroid replacement therapy
Auto-immune Thyroiditis
Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies
Anti-thyroid thyroglobulin antibodies
- Hashimoto’s
- silent/painless
- post-partum
Congenital Hypothyroidism
Incidence, cause, window for treatment
Females > males
treatment window: 3-12 weeks
Cause:
- radiation
- auto-immune disease
- iodine deficiency
- TSH deficiency
Clinical S&S
Congenital Hypothyroidism
*3-12 weeks
Myexedema vocal cords, tongue
- protruding tongue
- hoarse cry
- dysphagia
CSN: fatigue, lethargy, sleep
MSK: short stature, hypotonic muscles, hernias, potbelly
CARDIO: cold, mottled, bradycardia, poor cardiac output
Treatment window for congenital hypothyroidism
3-12 weeks
Permanent growth, development, CNS impairment
Treatment Congenital Hypothyroidism
Thyroid replacement therapy for 3 years
Test 3 years if euthyroid
Thyroid Cancer
Cellular Pathophysiology
- Papillary & Follicular carcinoma
- most common
- Euthyroid (normal thyroid levels) - Medullary cancer (parafollicular cells, C cells)
- less common
- high calcitonin level
Thyroid Cancer
Clinical S&S
Dysphagia
hoarse voice
difficulty breathing
Goitre or nodules
Euthyroid
*Treatment sometimes will cause hypothyroidism secondary to iatrogenic intervention (surgery, radiation, etc.)