Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Case Study

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, named for Dr. Hakaru Hashimoto, who first identified it in 1912, is also called Hashimoto’s disease, and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped endocrine gland in the front of the neck which makes hormones T3 (triiodothyronine), and T4 (thyroxine). These hormones regulate metabolism. The thyroid is controlled by hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland located in the base of the brain which, among others, makes thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH. TSH stimulates the thyroid to make thyroid hormone. In the case of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the thyroid cells are damaged, potentially resulting in the inability to make enough thyroid hormones to regulate metabolism properly. This is referred to as hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism can cause body functions to become bradykinetic, including: heart rate, brain function, and ability to metabolize food for energy. Hashimoto’s disease is the commonest form of hypothyroidism. People who get Hashimoto's disease often have family members who have thyroid or other autoimmune diseases. People who get Hashimoto's disease sometimes have other autoimmune diseases (Women’s Health, 2012). The causes of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are not clearly understood. However, certain people are more likely than others to have this condition. In an article in Everyday
The first was found in The American Thyroid Association (n.d.). This association stated that patients with elevated antibodies but normal thyroid function tests (TSH and Free thyroxine) do not require treatment. If the Hashimoto’s patient has elevated TSH, they are then treated with synthetic thyroid hormone, known as levothyroxine to restore TSH levels to a normal range. Secondly, an article in Medscape