Thyroiditis - inflammation of the thyroid gland caused by various factors. Accepted provide several basic types of thyroiditis, and each of them requires different treatments.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Hashimoto's thyroiditis, also known as autoimmune or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis - the most common type of thyroiditis. The name of this disease is named after Japanese researchers Hakaru Hashimoto, who described the symptoms of autoimmune thyroiditis in 1912.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis - one of the most common causes of hyperthyroidism, thyroid hormone excess Thyroid hormones: mechanism of action and physiological effects . One of the characteristic symptoms of the disease - increased thyroid Increase in thyroid - that underlies the disease : With the development of thyroiditis thyroid tissue cells lose the ability to process iodine hormones, and this is compensated by the growth of tissue atrophy of the thyroid gland. At the same time the ability of the thyroid to capture iodine remains paradoxically, despite the loss of the ability to produce hormones. Another feature of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, - the presence in the blood of specific antibodies, which allow to diagnose a disease without a biopsy of the thyroid gland. These antibodies may be present in blood within a few years after the final cure of the disease.

With the development of thyroiditis increases the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone as a result of increased activity of the pituitary gland that stimulates the thyroid gland. One of the consequences of high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone - hypothyroidism. The development of the disease may be rapid and takes only a few weeks, but in some cases continuing for several years.

The main treatment for Hashimoto's thyroiditis - hormone replacement therapy prevents the development of hypothyroidism and further growth of thyroid tissue. In most cases, after the start of treatment the thyroid gland is reduced in size.

Granulomatous thyroiditis

Granulomatous or subacute thyroiditis was first described in 1904, but even today studied to a much lesser extent than Hashimoto's thyroiditis, as the disease is much more rare. One feature of subacute thyroiditis - thyroid rapid swelling, pain and tenderness at the location of the prostate.

Granulomatous thyroiditis is accompanied by increased levels of thyroid hormone, resulting in a patient showing signs of hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism: increased secretion of thyroid hormone . However, with the development of thyroid disease lose the ability to capture iodine, necessary for the synthesis of hormones, and in a few weeks the signs of hyperthyroidism disappear.

The antibodies present in the blood in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, granulomatous thyroiditis absent at, but the degree of inflammation is very high. Although this type of thyroiditis is like a thyroid infection, antibiotics in the treatment of subacute thyroiditis useless. The main method of treatment of granulomatous thyroiditis - receiving anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone (steroid, which has anti-inflammatory effects), and synthetic forms of thyroid hormones. The treatment takes a few weeks to several months, after which symptoms disappear completely granulomatous thyroiditis. In very rare cases after treatment of this type of thyroiditis, a decrease in the activity of the thyroid gland, and the re-emergence of the disease does not meet almost.

Asymptomatic thyroiditis

Asymptomatic or hidden, thyroiditis - the least common form of thyroid disease Thyroid disease - women at risk , The study of which began only in the seventies of the twentieth century. Symptoms are similar partially hidden thyroiditis both the symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and with symptoms of granulomatous thyroiditis. Thyroid hormone levels increased, the capture of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland is very low, as in subacute thyroiditis, but the disease is not accompanied by painful sensations, and analysis of tissue samples of thyroid biopsy similar to the results of the biopsy in Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Most often hidden thyroiditis occurs in young women after pregnancy.

In most cases, this type of thyroid disease do not require treatment - eighty percent of cases recover completely within three months. Symptoms hidden thyroiditis are similar to the symptoms of Basedow's disease, but is much less distinct. The thyroid gland is only slightly increased in size.

The main method of treatment of latent thyroiditis - bed rest and intake of beta-blockers for the normalization of heart palpitations. Treatment with radioactive iodine, drugs that suppress the activity of the thyroid gland and the more surgical removal of part of the prostate tissues is required. In very rare cases after treatment of latent thyroiditis decrease the activity of the thyroid gland and hormone replacement therapy is needed.

In February 2010, most labs Western official range of normal levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was considered to range from 0.5 to 4.5 / 5.0. The range of normal values ​​or reference range, is of great importance - in fact, it depends on the accuracy and reliability of the TSH assay as a diagnostic tool.

The reference range of TSH determines - milking the majority of physicians who rely almost exclusively on the blood test results Blood tests: a mirror of health   - Whether a thyroid disorder generally is diagnosed, whether treatment will begin on time, and exactly which method of treatment is chosen.

Indicators

To determine the reference range of TSH used indicators of large groups of people. Then, the average value of these indicators. It is expected that the majority of people whose figures were used, there was no thyroid disease The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones . Now, however, experts have come to the realization that the upper value of the reference range includes people with mild or only began to develop thyroid disease. This led to the fact that as early as January 2003, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists issued a recommendation that physicians should consider the possibility to start treating patients whose TSH indices out of range 0.3 - 3.0.

The recommendation was supported by the results of research from 2002, in a report which stated that, probably, in the future, the maximum value of the reference range will decrease to 2.5 mIU / L. This is justified by the fact that more than 95% of the volunteers with a healthy thyroid, participated in the study, indicators were TTG between 0.5 and 2.5 mIU / L.

Result

That means a reduction in the reference range for the patients? In one of recent studies have found that, if the maximum value of the reference range of 5.0 mIU / L hypothyroidism diagnosed in approximately 5% of patients, then for decreasing this value to 3.0 mIU / L in about 20% of patients can be diagnosed hypothyroidism.

To date, it has been almost a decade since it was proposed to use a narrower reference range, but even in the US it did not become standard practice. Many doctors still adhere to a range of 0.5 to 4.5 / 5.0, and patients, of course, not always convincingly argue with the doctor. However, if you suffer from symptoms of hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism - Symptoms: What should pay particular attention   or hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism: increased secretion of thyroid hormone And the doctor persistently said that the level of TSH in your normal, you have every right to remind him that there is an alternative reference range, and according to him, probably, your thyroid gland does not work as it should. If this fails, you can always turn to a specialist who knows how to listen to patients and knows that the adopted standards are not always the most accurate.