Hashimoto
thyroiditis, named for the Japanese doctor who first described it, is a chronic inflammation that is the most common
cause of hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid
gland. It is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system forms antibodies that attack the body's own tissues, in this case certain receptors in the thyroid gland. This reduces the effects of thyroid-stimulating
hormone (TSH), produced by the pituitary gland, and results in insufficient production of the hormone
thyroxine. Also, the inflammation destroys part of the thyroid.
The cause of Hashimoto thyroiditis is unknown. Symptoms include weight gain, sluggishness, and enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter). The disorder is about eight times as prevalent in women as in men, and it most frequently develops between ages 30 and 50. People with a family history of thyroid
disorders have an increased risk of developing Hashimoto thyroiditis, and people with the condition also suffer from other autoimmune disorders, including pernicious anemia and Sjogren syndrome.
A test called sensitive TSH assays helps doctors to diagnose mild cases of hypothyroidism, allowing early treatment, which entails taking thyroxine in pill form.
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