Constant fatigue and poor sleep are possible signs of autoimmune thyroiditis

Endocrine diseases, and especially autoimmune thyroiditis, are most often not diagnosed immediately, because their early symptoms strongly resemble ordinary overwork. Thyroiditis can have various forms, as it can be caused, for example, by postpartum thyroid dysfunction or by taking certain medications, provoked by external adverse factors. Nevertheless, early detection of thyroiditis helps to take control of this disease in a timely manner and prevent the destruction of the thyroid gland and the development of other complications.

What is autoimmune thyroiditis

The essence of autoimmune thyroiditis is the development of chronic inflammation of the thyroid tissue, when its follicular tissue is destroyed  cells. Inflammation develops due to & nbsp; active penetration of T-lymphocytes into the parenchyma of the thyroid gland and the growth of their number. Antibodies gradually destroy the structure of the gland, disrupt its functions, which is why & nbsp; the production of thyroid hormones is significantly reduced and hypothyroidism develops.

Thyroiditis can develop after childbirth due to the fact that during pregnancy the immune system was suppressed to a certain extent, and then its excessive reactivation occurred. With this form of the disease, the function of the thyroid gland can be restored over time, although there is also a transition to a destructive form. A similar course and prognosis has a cytokine-induced form of thyroiditis, which is caused by medication in connection with certain blood diseases or hepatitis.

Autoimmune thyroiditis usually has several phases – euthyroid (which may well last a lifetime), subclinical, thyrotoxic, hypothreoid

latent – no clinical symptoms,
hypertrophic – enlargement of the thyroid gland,
atrophic – hypothyroidism on clinical grounds.

Autoimmune thyroiditis can be hereditary when several family members are sick with hypothyroidism, especially in combination with other autoimmune & nbsp; diseases.

Why autoimmune thyroiditis can develop

Although autoimmune thyroiditis develops with a hereditary predisposition, in order for the disease to manifest, certain unfavorable factors are needed, the action of which will provoke its development. These factors can be:

severe stress, psychotraumatic situations;
severe illnesses, especially viral and infectious ones;
presence of foci of chronic infection in the body (tonsillitis, caries);
prolonged and uncontrolled use of hormonal drugs, iodine-containing drugs;
long-term excessive insolation;
unfavorable ecology with excessive content of fluorine and iodine in water and food.

The development and course of autoimmune thyroiditis in the initial stages is practically asymptomatic: the thyroid gland does not hurt, does not increase in size, its functions are not impaired.  In the future, when questioning the doctor, the patient may indicate the appearance of pain & nbsp; in the joints, fatigue, occasionally – sensation of a lump in the throat.

If we are talking about thyroiditis that developed after childbirth, then its manifestations usually begin about two weeks after the birth of the child: the woman feels fatigue, sleep disturbances, general weakness – and usually writes off these manifestations of fatigue in connection with the care of the baby. Rarely, postpartum thyroiditis can cause more severe symptoms – tachycardia, sensation of heat and excessive sweating, hand tremors, and also combined with postpartum depression.

Peculiarities of diagnosis and therapy of autoimmune thyroiditis

When diagnosing autoimmune thyroiditis, it is important to assess the following disease criteria:  the presence of signs of hypoechogenicity of the thyroid gland & nbsp; (on an ultrasound study), primary hypothyroidism, as well as an increase in AT-TPO. If at least one of these criteria is absent, then the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis can only be made as probable, but not certain.

There is no specific treatment for autoimmune thyroiditis yet, it is practically impossible to correct the pathology so that thyroiditis does not progress towards hypothyroidism. If the process has nevertheless reached hypothyroidism, hormone replacement therapy is prescribed, with a combination of & nbsp; with subacute thyroiditis – glucocorticoids are recommended. If, in autoimmune thyroiditis, thyroid gland hypertrophy occurs with compression of the mediastinal organs, surgical intervention is performed.

The prognosis of the disease is favorable, with timely detection of autoimmune thyroiditis and constant monitoring of & nbsp; the patient can control the functions of the thyroid gland, take timely measures and prevent its destruction.