Autoimmune thyroiditis. Autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune thyroiditis (abbreviated as AIT) has another name - Hashimoto's thyroiditis (the disease was first described by the Japanese scientist Hashimoto). It is one of the most common thyroid disorders, affecting one in ten women between the ages of thirty and fifty.

What is autoimmune thyroiditis? This is a chronic process that develops in the thyroid gland, which subsequently leads to the destruction (destruction) of the follicles of which it consists.

AIT is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland, in which pathological aggression of the immune system is manifested, that is, the thyroid tissue is recognized as a foreign and dangerous object to be destroyed. Such a reaction pulls protective cells directly into the focus, which leads to the production of autoantibodies.

The process is in the form of a specific autoimmune inflammation and this is fraught with the destruction of the follicles in which hormones are produced. Thus, AIT has a second name - chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis.

In the future, this leads to a decrease in thyroid function () or intoxication with its own hormones. This process is fraught with a change in the tissue of the endocrine organ, which in many cases entails the formation of nodes and cysts.

Areas where lymphocytes accumulate are prone to overgrowth (hyperplasia). Such violations lead to a visual increase in the thyroid gland and such changes are clearly visible to the naked eye.

The main reasons that provoke an autoimmune process in the thyroid gland:

hereditary factor. It has been noticed that if one of the close relatives in the family (for example, mother or grandmother) has experienced thyroid disease, then there is a high risk for a certain individual to also know hormonal pathology. Scientists have even proven this phenomenon by finding a transmission gene that causes the development of thyroiditis.
Stressful situations, neuropsychic overstrain. This factor provokes the thyroid gland to secrete an excessive amount of thyroid hormone into the blood. Subsequently, this leads to increased growth of the endocrine organ, and also causes a violation of its function.
Environmental degradation, reduced food quality, industrial pollution, exposure to toxic factors on the body (alcohol, smoking) leads to hormonal imbalance of the entire endocrine system, in particular, the thyroid gland.
The focus of infection, which is located "next door" to the gland. These include diseases such as chronic rhinitis, adenoiditis, tonsillitis, frequent pharyngitis and acute tonsillitis. An infectious agent, due to its close anatomical location, can cause an infectious process in the cells of the thyroid gland, which are directly responsible for the production of hormones.
Incorrectly selected immunostimulant therapy. This can impair humoral and cellular immune responses, leading to a number of abnormalities such as overstimulation and T-lymphocyte cloning.
Violation of the general hormonal background- "excellent" impetus to the development of the disease. The “starting” factor is pregnancy, menopause, teenage transition, strict diets (starvation).

Women are at risk for the described hormonal pathology: according to statistics, they are diagnosed with this disease 7 times more often than men. It also occurs in medical practice, and in children under six years of age, the disease is almost never detected.

The initial stage of the disease: the actions of the patient and the development of the disease

During the initial development of the pathological process, the general condition is not disturbed, so patients are often unaware of the change in hormonal levels. To determine the "origin" of the disease is possible only by passing laboratory tests.

To differentiate AIT with a number of diseases, the examination begins with the delivery of a general blood test. With an increase in lymphocytes, ESR and monocytes, the doctor may suspect autoimmune thyroiditis. In the future, the patient will be asked to undergo an ultrasound examination of the gland and.

Important! As a rule, only a few patients turn to a specialist before the appearance of clinical signs. In most cases, treatment occurs at the very "height" of the disease.

At the beginning of the development of pathology, the patient feels causeless weakness, malaise, drowsiness. At the end of the working day (especially if the work is associated with physical stress), one feels powerless and tired.

If at this stage medical assistance was not provided, then the following signs are determined:

visualized slight swelling around the neck, deepening of the transverse folds;
the process of swallowing is disturbed;
hoarseness of voice occurs;
there is a feeling of squeezing (as if a scarf is tightly wrapped around the neck).

Table. Symptomatic manifestations depending on the increased or decreased function of the thyroid gland:

In almost all situations, women experience various menstrual and cycle disorders: abundant or, on the contrary, scant spotting, pronounced premenstrual syndrome, changes in the duration of the follicular, ovulatory or luteal phase.

Analyzes and research: what does the specialist offer?

Ultrasound of the thyroid gland is one of the main diagnostic methods

If you experience symptoms that resemble autoimmune thyroid diseases, you should contact an endocrinologist. At the appointment, the doctor collects an anamnesis (studies the patient's medical history, analyzes the nature of complaints), and also examines the thyroid gland by palpation.

To make an accurate conclusion, it is necessary to undergo the following examinations:

Study of TSH, T3, T4 hormones. An increase in T3 and T4 with reduced TSH is observed in the case of thyrotoxicosis. If T3 and T4 levels are reduced, and TSH is above normal, then this is a clinical sign of hypothyroidism. With normal levels of "thyroid" hormones, euthyroidism is diagnosed.
Determination of the level of antithyroid autoantibodies to thyroperoxidase (AT-TPO) and to (AT-TG). With autoimmune thyroiditis, the indicators will be higher than normal.
Ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland. AIT is characterized by a diffuse decrease in tissue echogenicity, an increase or decrease in the parameters and volume of the thyroid gland is also noted.

The diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis is made only if the results of the study listed below are positive:

ultrasound signs show the presence of a pathological process;
the presence of symptoms of hypothyroidism;
detection of autoantibodies in the blood.

If at least one parameter is negative, then the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis is called into question, but not excluded.

Fine needle biopsy (FNAB) is another way to confirm the disease

This technique allows you to identify the accumulation of lymphocytes and other cells characteristic of autoimmune thyroiditis. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland is performed on an outpatient basis. To perform the manipulation does not require special training.

The procedure is performed without general anesthesia, as the anesthetic may be in the biological material and thereby affect the information content of the result. To reduce the sensitivity of medical actions, the doctor treats the skin at the puncture site with an anesthetic ointment or injects a special subcutaneous injection.

Manipulation is carried out using a thin needle, in some cases it is necessary to make several punctures in order to take material from different areas. The location of the biopsy is determined using an ultrasound machine. The depth of needle insertion is controlled "blindly" (see photo of the procedure).

The puncture material is applied in a thin layer on a glass slide, which is then sent to the laboratory. The procedure lasts approximately ten to fifteen minutes. Manipulation has low invasiveness and is relatively painless. Patients often tolerate it well, so they are immediately sent home.

TAPB is characterized by high information content, therefore, according to the results of the study, one can be almost 100% sure of the final diagnosis. The price of the procedure is on average 1700-9000 rubles.

Treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis - what does modern medicine offer?

To date, medicine has not yet developed drugs that would effectively and safely correct autoimmune pathology. The applied treatment only slows down the development of hypothyroidism, but does not exclude its progression in the future.

Autoimmune thyroiditis almost never causes hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, so drugs to reduce hormone levels (thyrostatics) such as Thiamazole, Cardimazole are not prescribed. If hypothyroidism is detected, replacement therapy with synthetic hormonal drugs, which include L-thyroxine ("Levothyroxine"), is prescribed. Treatment is carried out under constant monitoring of the clinical picture and the level of thyrotropin in the blood serum.

Glucocorticoid therapy is prescribed when AIT is combined with subacute thyroiditis (relapses are often observed in the autumn-winter period). A decrease in the titer of autoantibodies is carried out with the help of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; immunocorrectors are also widely used for this purpose.

In addition, it is important not to forget about the treatment of concomitant diseases: in case of violation of the function of the heart, beta-blockers are prescribed, and in the event of negative changes in the liver, hepatoprotectors are recommended.

What are the restrictions?

Patients who suffer from AIT must adhere to certain restrictions so as not to provoke the development of another relapse.

Autoimmune thyroiditis - contraindications:

Many people mistakenly believe that iodine-containing drugs are necessary for thyroid dysfunction. In fact, these medications can both help and harm, so in this case it is important not to self-medicate, even if we are talking about “useful” vitamins or mineral complexes. For example, iodine in autoimmune thyroiditis increases the amount of antibodies that destroy thyroid cells. Only a doctor, based on the result of T3 and T4 tests, has the right to prescribe iodine-containing drugs for the main treatment.
In cases of selenium deficiency, the conversion of T3 and T4 is disrupted, which leads to the development of hypothyroidism. In other words, this microelement synthesizes a hormone that creates energy in cells. When a violation occurs, the thyroid gland improves its work by increasing its surface area (it grows, nodes or cysts appear on it). But the trace element is still not enough! Thus, selenium plays an important role in autoimmune thyroiditis. However, it is not prescribed in all cases: if the patient has thyrotoxicosis, then this microelement is contraindicated.
Many patients are interested in whether it is possible to carry out vaccination (for example, against influenza) in case of impaired thyroid function? Endocrinologists note that autoimmune thyroiditis and vaccinations are not compatible concepts. The fact is that AIT is a severe immune disorder, so vaccination can only aggravate hormonal imbalance.

To find out what dietary restrictions are available for autoimmune thyroid disease, we recommend watching the video in this article.

Complications of hormonal imbalance

The prognosis for autoimmune thyroiditis is satisfactory. In patients who started treatment in a timely manner, there is an improvement in well-being due to a decrease in thyroid function.

With the help of medications, in many cases it is possible to achieve a long-term remission. Thus, in the first 10-15 years there is a normal working capacity, good health, despite short periods of exacerbation.

The negative consequences of autoimmune thyroiditis occur in those patients who, for whatever reason, do not receive treatment. Over time, they develop such serious pathologies as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, cerebral atherosclerosis, and sexual dysfunction.

Attention! Autoimmune thyroiditis and infertility are phenomena that go hand in hand. Thyroid antibodies directly increase the risk of miscarriage. In addition, the likelihood of attachment of the embryo to the uterine membrane is reduced. Before planning a pregnancy, a woman suffering from AIT is advised to stabilize her hormonal levels. This contributes to the successful bearing of the fetus and the birth of a healthy child.

Against the background of impaired immunity, infectious diseases often occur, and progression of autoimmune processes up to the formation of oncology can also be observed.

It is categorically not recommended to be treated with the means that helped the neighbor, even if the symptoms are highly similar, and the instructions for the drug “promises” to improve the general condition soon. It is important at the first signs of pathology to seek medical help in a timely manner, listen to the doctor's advice and fully follow the recommendations.

It is customary to distinguish between two types of autoimmune thyroid diseases: with one of them, there is an excessive secretion of thyroid hormones - Graves' disease, while the other, on the contrary, is characterized by a decrease in the synthesis of hormones - myxedema, or Hashimoto's disease.

The thyroid gland takes part in the synthesis of a very important hormone - thyroxine. The participation of thyroxin is necessary for the normal course of a number of metabolic processes. In addition, the presence of thyroxine is important for the normal functioning of muscles, the proper functioning of the brain, and bone growth.

Insufficient thyroxine synthesis in Hashimoto's disease is manifested by lethargy, nerve damage to the limbs, dry hair and skin. Such patients throughout their lives must receive the hormone thyroxine from the outside. The incidence of myxedema is 8 times more common among females. The onset of the disease usually falls on the age of 30-50 years. In most cases, the patient's history includes one or more cases of Hashimoto's disease among close relatives.

Graves' disease, or Graves' disease, develops with increased production of the hormone thyroxine by the thyroid gland. This pathology is characterized by the manifestation of symptoms such as increased heart rate, trembling in the hands, irritability, weight loss. A very important hallmark of Graves' disease is the symptom of bulging eyes. Such patients are very difficult to tolerate heat, suffer from excessive sweating. Graves' disease, like Hashimoto's disease, affects women more often. The first signs of the disease, as a rule, can be observed after 40 years.

Autoimmune thyroid diseases are the main cause of primary hypothyroidism. Autoimmune diseases (translated from Latin “auto” means “self”, “own”) develop when the immune defense system is unable to recognize the tissues of its own body. At the same time, the immune system, necessary to protect the human body from viruses, bacteria and other foreign agents, begins to synthesize special proteins called antibodies. These antibodies are capable of destroying the cells of the tissues of their own body. That is why they are called "autoantibodies".

Autoantibodies have the ability to attack most organs, leading to the development of various disorders in their functioning. The result of such attacks is the development of autoimmune diseases. For example, when the articular system is affected, rheumatoid arthritis develops, the kidneys - glomerulonephritis, the stomach - pernicious anemia (impaired absorption of vitamin B12 through the intestinal wall), the adrenal glands - Addison's disease, the pancreas - type I diabetes mellitus, the thyroid gland - Hashimoto's thyroiditis (autoimmune thyroiditis ). In this case, if there is an autoimmune process in one of the organs, there is an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease in another organ. That is why, if a patient has any autoimmune disease, the doctor will definitely examine him for the presence of other diseases of autoimmune etiology.

Autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common form of thyroiditis. There are two types of autoimmune thyroiditis: atrophic and hypertrophic, or Hashimoto's goiter.

In autoimmune thyroiditis, there is a qualitative or quantitative deficiency of T-lymphocytes. According to the modern concept, autoimmune thyroiditis is commonly understood as a chronic autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland, which is characterized by lymphoid infiltration of its tissue, which develops under the influence of autoimmune factors.

It is known that autoimmune thyroiditis is a genetically determined disease that is realized under the influence of environmental factors. In the process of development of the autoimmune process in the tissue of the thyroid gland, its functioning undergoes stage-by-stage changes and almost always ends with the occurrence of secondary hypothyroidism.

That is why in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis it is very often possible to observe overt or subclinical hypothyroidism with corresponding clinical symptoms. The hypertrophic form of autoimmune thyroiditis can be characterized by an increase in the size of the thyroid gland, which in some cases is established not only by palpation, but also visually. Such patients very often receive the diagnosis of nodular goiter. The atrophic form of autoimmune thyroiditis most often manifests itself as a clinical picture of hypothyroidism.

Among the most common clinical symptoms of autoimmune thyroiditis, it is necessary to note the coarsening of facial features, a gradual increase in body weight, bradycardia, memory loss, a change in the timbre of the voice, slurred speech, the appearance of shortness of breath during physical exertion, changes in skin color, its dryness and thickening. In women, it is very common to observe menstrual irregularities and infertility. However, despite the numerous clinical manifestations of autoimmune thyroiditis, in most cases its diagnosis is difficult.

Some patients with autoimmune thyroiditis may have symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. This is due to the process of destruction of thyroid tissue under the influence of autoimmune aggression and the entry into the circulatory system of a large number of synthesized hormones. To diagnose autoimmune thyroiditis, the palpation technique, clinical examination of the neck area, determination of the level of thyroid hormones in the blood, ultrasound examination of thyroid tissue, and detection of autoantibodies in the blood are very often used.

Treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis is mostly conservative. It comes down to the treatment of various disorders in the functioning of the thyroid gland. In severe cases, surgery is indicated - thyroidectomy.

Such diseases occur due to the fact that the immune system begins to defend itself strenuously against its own cells. The system, mistakenly considering them alien, begins to destroy them, while producing antibodies.

The thyroid gland itself is quite small, but the function that it performs plays a rather important role and consists in the production of hormones. One of the most important processes occurring in the body is the synthesis of thyroxin, moreover, it is important, no matter how old the patient is.

The thyroid gland is located on the trachea

In childhood, a lack of this component can lead to a developmental delay. For adults, a lack threatens with a decrease in memory, and in some cases a decrease in intellectual abilities. And the neglected form of this process can become a serious pathology.

Classification of autoimmune diseases

Of all the autoimmune diseases (AITG), two main ones can be distinguished: this is hyperthyroidism, better known as autoimmune thyroiditis.

Despite the fact that autoimmune diseases have many subtypes, experts usually distinguish only two groups - this is insufficient and excessive concentration. Also, all types of autoimmune diseases are divided into a certain form:

In the latent form, there are no clinical symptoms, the thyroid gland has a normal size and does not have any seals. All functions are working normally.
The hypertrophic form has other features. The butterfly-shaped organ is noticeably enlarged, knots form, and the patient's general condition quickly worsens.
Atrophic form, with this form, thyrocytes are massively destroyed and the mass of iron decreases.

Causes of autoimmune diseases

The causes of ASTC are varied. Frequent stressful situations, conflicts can cause such a disease.

Also, the cause may be an increased level of solar activity, radiation. An important role is played by a hereditary factor, as well as a genetic predisposition to a lack of iodine in the body.

Important! The nature of the manifestation of some autoimmune diseases is difficult to determine. For each individual patient, the disease progresses differently, with a different rate of progression, and the symptoms in each patient pass in a completely different order.

Symptoms

Despite this, the main complaints of patients in the initial stages are as follows:

fast fatiguability;
insomnia;
weight loss;
disruptions in the menstrual cycle;
violation of potency;
pain when swallowing;
hoarseness;
inability to concentrate;
swelling of the limbs, face;
dry mouth;
incessant thirst.

If AITG has a neglected appearance, then the symptoms are of a completely different nature. Basically, patients feel pain in the neck, and pain in the joints is also noted.

Pain in the thyroid gland

With prolonged progression of the disease, the patient:

gaining excess weight;
he is haunted by frequent depression;
memory and hearing deteriorate.
constipation and fainting often occur.

The process of destruction of the thyroid gland in AITG is quite slow, it can take ten years before a person learns about his disease. Since it is absolutely impossible to find out and diagnose the disease on your own.

It is necessary to undergo a specialized examination without fail. And in the case of the presence of this diagnosis, register with specialists.

Methods for diagnosing the disease

The diagnosis of ASTC is carried out in several ways. First, the doctor conducts a visual examination and examination by palpation, but not every type of this disease can be identified in this way.

If close relatives are diagnosed with a similar disease, then as a preventive measure, it is worth periodically being examined. Diagnostic methods include:

To fully confirm the diagnosis, laboratory tests are prescribed, which most likely reveal pathology.
A general blood test is prescribed, in which you can calculate the exact number of lymphocytes, what level of hormones is contained in the blood.
Ultrasound can be used for diagnosis.
Another method is a biopsy. During a biopsy, thyroid tissue cells are removed and subsequently studied.

There is a simpler and faster way to diagnose - the use of special markers of autoimmune diseases.

A simple blood test for special markers will give an accurate answer if there are any inflammatory processes in the body. Only in this case it is possible to identify and cure AITG in time.

How to treat autoimmune diseases

It is necessary to correctly approach the treatment of infectious diseases, protect the anterior region of the neck and avoid various injuries in this area - these are the main recommendations of the endocrinologist. Autoimmune diseases can be treated with medications, conservative therapy. There is a certain .

The essence of therapy is to suppress the inflammatory process in the body, as well as hormonal correction. It is possible to cure the thyroid gland by completely eliminating all the negative symptoms that occur from the cardiovascular system and the vegetative-vascular system.

Important! Removal of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy) is performed only in very extreme cases, if the organ cannot be restored with conservative therapy.

Dieting

Very often, patients are prescribed diets, they are able to enrich the body with the necessary vitamins and minerals. All food should be exclusively fractional, products should contain iodine, fats, carbohydrates. Eliminate any fasting and vice versa increase the number of meals per day.

Each disease has its own recommendations for the treatment menu. Here's what: in the daily diet, you must include lean meat, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Eggs should also be consumed every day, and they can be eaten both raw and boiled, as an omelet.

Dairy products in any form. Carbohydrates must be present without fail, it can be any cereal crops. Proper and vitamin-enriched nutrition can speed up the healing process.

The increased activity of the immune system, directed against its own body, leads to autoimmune diseases. The immune system detects body cells as foreign and destroys them by producing antibodies. The phenomenon can cover not only certain organs and tissues, but the entire body, such diseases are called systemic. Modern medicine has not fully studied the question of why and how exactly an autoimmune disease occurs in the body.

The thyroid gland is a small organ that belongs to the endocrine system. The function of the thyroid gland is to produce hormones designed for physiological processes in the body. With an autoimmune disease localized in the thyroid gland, the normal synthesis of hormones is disrupted.

Classification

The hormone thyroxine, produced by the thyroid gland, is involved in metabolic processes in the body, affects bone growth, muscle function, and brain function. Violation of the synthesis of the hormone leads to the occurrence of an autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune thyroid diseases are usually divided into two types:

thyroxine is produced in excess - hyperthyroidism. This is Graves' disease.
Thyroxine is synthesized in small quantities - hypothyroidism. The general name for violations of this type is.

Autoimmune thyroiditis is divided into types:

hypertrophic (goiter, or Hashimoto's disease);
atrophic.

Thyrotoxicosis

Thyrotoxicosis, or hyperthyroidism, is characterized by a high content of the hormone thyroxine in the body. There is an intoxication of the body with a hormone.

Thyrotoxicosis is not observed on its own, but appears with such thyroid diseases as Graves' disease, thyroiditis,.

Basedow's disease (additional names - diffuse toxic goiter) is an autoimmune disease that occurs with excessive synthesis of thyroxine. At the same time, all metabolic processes in the body are carried out in an accelerated mode. Nutrients from food break down quickly, resulting in weight loss.

An important distinguishing feature of the disease is endocrine ophthalmopathy - bulging eyes. This is due to the fact that the fiber behind the eyeball grows. Most often, bulging eyes affect both eyes. Puffy eyes can appear both before the onset of Graves' disease, and after its onset.

More often the disease is observed in women after 40 years.

Most often, Graves' disease is observed in women, the initial symptoms appear after 40 years. These include: rapid pulse, trembling in the hands, excessive sweating. Patients do not tolerate heat well. Along with the disease, changes in behavior and mood come, touchiness, nervousness, and sleep disorders appear.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a condition caused by insufficient synthesis of thyroxine. The initial stages of the disease may be accompanied by an increase in thyroxine. With the development of the disease, tissues undergo destructive changes, the level of the hormone first normalizes and then decreases.

Hypothyroidism can be:

facial features coarsen;
body weight increases;
the timbre of the voice changes, fuzzy speech;
bradycardia, shortness of breath;
infertility;
interruptions in the menstrual cycle in women;
memory deterioration.

With Hashimoto's goiter, the hormone is synthesized in insufficient quantities. The disease is accompanied by dry skin and hair, the innervation of the hands and feet is disturbed. A characteristic symptom is a thick neck. The disease is more often recorded among women, symptoms may appear between the ages of 30 and 50 years. It happens that the disease manifests itself at an earlier age, about 18-20 years. A disease or a predisposition to it can be inherited. Patients susceptible to the disease are forced to receive thyroxine all their lives.

Autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland lead to the development of a chronic inflammatory process in the tissues of the organ. They are characterized by an unfavorable course, especially in case of late diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms

For a long time, an autoimmune disease is asymptomatic, especially if the functions of the endocrine organ are not impaired or are in the process of compensation.

Graves' disease is characterized by increased synthesis of hormones and is characterized by the following clinical picture:

neurological disorders. There is a tremor of the limbs, anxiety, restlessness, sleep disturbance. A person quickly gets tired, feels increased weakness. Strengthening tendon reflexes.
Skin manifestations. The shape of the nail plates changes, the skin becomes moist, sweating increases, and swelling of the lower extremities occurs.
Ophthalmic changes. Exophthalmos develops, incomplete closure of the eyelids is noted as a result of lowering the lower eyelid and raising the upper one. Increased intraocular pressure, impaired vision.
Weight loss with good appetite, activation of metabolic processes in the human body.
There are complaints from the cardiovascular system. These include: acceleration of heart rate, respiration, arrhythmia, arterial hypertension, development of chronic heart failure.

With the development of hypothyroidism, there is a decrease in the level of thyroid hormones in the blood. As a result, a condition develops, characterized by a slowdown in all types of metabolic processes in the patient's body.

Main signs:

Puffiness of the face and the appearance of an unhealthy blush. The features become rough, the skin yellowish.
Deterioration of the hair condition, increased hair loss. Baldness is observed not only on the head, but also on other parts of the body - armpits, pubis, shins.
Lethargy, which manifests itself in the form of slow movements, deterioration of facial expressions. This is due not only to a violation of the functioning of the central nervous system, but also to the swelling of the tongue.
Dry skin, decreased firmness and elasticity. The appearance of cracks on the elbows and soles.
Fatigue, drowsiness, decreased performance, memory impairment.
The development of chronic constipation due to impaired motor function of the intestine.
Violation of the ovarian-menstrual cycle. Monthly scanty or, conversely, too abundant, according to the type of bleeding. A distant consequence of the disease is the development of infertility.
Decreased sexual function, erectile dysfunction in men.

The reasons

Autoimmune diseases of the thyroid organ develop due to the fact that the protective system loses the ability to recognize certain types of its own cells, as a result of which antibodies begin to be produced against them.

A large number of different factors can provoke the development of the disease. These include:

hereditary predisposition;
transferred viral and bacterial infections;
the presence of chronic foci of infection in the human body;
poor environmental situation in the patient's region of residence;
lack of trace elements (fluorine, iodine, etc.) in water and products;
prolonged use of medications (glucocorticosteroids, iodine-containing);
radioactive radiation, prolonged exposure to open sunlight;
mental stress, stressful situations.

Types and forms

There are 2 main types of autoimmune diseases:

Autoimmune thyroiditis. It is characterized by progressive hypofunction of the organ as a result of a decrease in the synthesis of hormones.
Graves' disease. It is characterized by excessive production of thyroid hormones.

There is a latent form of autoimmune pathologies and severe clinical manifestations.

Diagnostics

Autoimmune damage to the thyroid gland can only be established by the results of laboratory tests and additional research methods.

These include:

General clinical blood test. An increase in the number of lymphocytes is determined).
Immunogram. The presence of circulating antibodies to thyroglobulin, thyroperoxidase and thyroid hormone.
Analysis for T3 and T4 (decrease) and TSH (increase).
Ultrasound procedure. It makes it possible to detect the presence of pathological foci of inflammation in the organ, its size, and changes in its structure.

Treatment

Therapy for autoimmune thyroid disease should be comprehensive. A suitable scheme is selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the course of the disease (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, euthyroidism). The main directions in the treatment of pathology:

With the development of hypothyroidism, hormone replacement therapy with L-thyroxine, Levothyroxine, etc. is indicated. The required dosage is selected based on these blood tests. In addition, constant monitoring of laboratory tests for hormone levels is required in order to correct appointments in a timely manner.
With accelerated production of hormones, it is recommended to use antithyroid drugs - Mercazolil, Methylthiouracil.
Glucocorticosteroids. They are used in the complex treatment of an autoimmune disease complicated by subacute inflammation of the thyroid gland tissues. With their help, it will be possible to reduce the titer of antibodies against the cells of the organ and weaken the intensity of the pathological process.
Medicines to strengthen the immune system. For this purpose, only multivitamin preparations are used.
Symptomatic remedies. Depending on the prevailing symptoms, the treatment regimen may include
beta-blockers, sedatives and other agents are included.

Diet

Nutrition for autoimmune pathologies does not imply strict caloric restrictions. The patient should eat often, every 3-4 hours, but in small portions.

The diet should contain foods containing a large amount of unsaturated fatty acids (fish oil, fatty fish), cereals, bread and pasta.

You need to drink a lot of mineral water without gas to ensure the removal of toxins, allergens and other harmful components from the human body.

Spicy, salty, fried, marinated should be excluded from the menu. In no case should the patient follow a vegetarian diet. This can lead to an even greater disruption in the production of thyroid hormones and provoke a sharp progression of the disease.

With the development of hyperthyroidism, it is recommended to enrich the menu with foods high in calcium, since as a result of an accelerated metabolism, the risk of developing osteoporosis increases. You should include foods rich in iodine in the menu.

Prevention

If an autoimmune process occurs in the thyroid gland, a person must make every effort to prevent the progression of the disease. This will help stabilize the patient's condition, prevent disruption of hormone production and prevent the development of complications.

Autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland

Blood Tests: THYROID HORMONES (T3/T4/TSH)

First of all, the patient should regularly undergo a comprehensive examination to assess the state of the endocrine organ. If necessary, take the drugs prescribed by the doctor and do not refuse treatment.

It is necessary to eat right so that the body receives all the necessary vitamins, trace elements and other substances.

You should not arbitrarily take drugs and use alternative methods of treatment to strengthen immunity.

This can lead to the progression of the autoimmune process and even more damage to the cells of the organ. If possible, avoid stressful situations and physical overexertion. It is necessary to regularly take multivitamin preparations, especially during the seasonal increase in the incidence of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections.