What is an autoimmune thyroid hypothyroidism and symptoms of the disease?

1 Classification of pathology and phase of its development

AIT has the following classification:

• is an autoimmune thyroiditis of a chronic nature. Its formation is due to a strong infiltration( impregnation of tissues) of thyroid T-lymphocytes, which contributes to an increase in the content of the antibody in the body, causing its gradual destruction. Chronic course of the disease is formed as a result of any genetic abnormalities and is inherited;
• postpartum AIT is the most common and most commonly occurring form of pathology. The factor that influences its occurrence is too intensive reactivation of the body's defense system, which manifests itself during pregnancy;
• silent or painless autoimmune thyroiditis. According to its characteristics can refer to the postpartum, but the reasons that contribute to its formation, at the moment are not clear;
• is a cytokine-induced AIT.It is formed as a result of the course of treatment of patients suffering from blood diseases and hepatitis.

AIT has such phases of development:

1. Euthyroid. The peculiarity of this phase is that its course does not interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland. This phase can last from 1 year or throughout the life of a person.
2. Subclinical. If the disease begins to progress, infiltration of T-lymphocytes destroys the cells and tissues of the thyroid gland, which helps to reduce the secretion of thyroid hormones. As a result of increased secretion of TSH( thyreotropic hormone), the body can maintain the normal production of the most active thyroid hormone T4( thyroxine), which regulates the processes of catabolism - obtaining energy from fats and glycogen.
3. Thyrotoxic. Due to damage to the cells of the thyroid organ, the thyroid hormone enters the blood and supersaturates it, which contributes to the development of thyrotoxicosis. Further destruction of the thyroid causes a strong deficiency in the content of thyroxin in the body. Here, in this case, hypothyroidism acquires a pronounced character.
4. Hypothyroid. The duration of the phase is one year, after which the normal functioning of the thyroid gland is restored.

2 Types of clinical manifestation of the disease

Autoimmune thyroiditis in its clinical manifestations and the ability to change the size of the thyroid gland is divided into such basic forms:

• latent. This form is characterized by the fact that its course does not disrupt the functioning of the thyroid organ and does not manifest itself in the form of any clinical symptoms. In this case, the gland itself can be of a normal size or slightly enlarged;
• is hypertrophic. It is accompanied by moderate signs of hypothyroidism and a uniform increase in the thyroid organ or some of its parts. At the same time, its functioning is not violated or slightly deteriorates;
• is atrophic. Has a pronounced symptomatology of hypothyroidism and may be accompanied by a decrease in the size of the thyroid gland or the thyroid gland may be of normal size. There is also a sharp decrease in the working capacity and normal functioning of the gland. This form of autoimmune thyroiditis often worries elderly or middle-aged people. However, the disease can be observed in young people, if their body was exposed to any radioactive effect.

3 Symptoms of the disease and treatment of

In most cases, autoimmune thyroiditis has virtually no symptoms and this disease is discovered by accident when the thyroid gland is completely inspected. After all, during the course of this pathology, the organ can maintain its normal functioning. Symptomatic appears only when the tissue of the gland began to deteriorate and led to a sharp deterioration of the thyroid gland. In this case, the following symptoms appear:

• feeling of constant fatigue, weakness;
• the skin becomes dry and acquires a pale shade;
• swelling occurs on different parts of the body;
• the speech rate becomes slow;
• can be observed hoarseness in the voice;
• nails and hair become brittle;
• disrupted the digestive system, accompanied by constipation;
• there is a disruption of the functioning of the nervous system, which leads to a decrease in memory and attention deficit;
• pain in the joints.

To date, there is no specific treatment for AIT.But nevertheless, special hormonal preparations are developed that can maintain the necessary level of hormones in the blood that the thyroid organ must produce. In addition, medication is prescribed that reduces the symptoms of AIT.Dosage and treatment of the disease should be carried out only under the supervision of a specialist.

Any disease associated with the work of the thyroid gland, has a negative effect on the body.

Autoimmune thyroiditis is a serious pathology of the thyroid gland, which requires proper treatment. In this case, the disease can develop asymptomatically and for decades, and sometimes throughout life.