Level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (Produced by the pituitary gland, it stimulates the thyroid to produce T3 and T4) Levels of anti-thyroid antibodies (Inflammation of the thyroid causes your immune system to release antibodies in the bloodstream) Radioactive iodine uptake values (A test that requires a patient to take a small dose of radioactive iodine by mouth and then measures the amount that builds up in the thyroid gland. Can be done only if the woman is not breastfeeding). The diagnosis is often made clinically, and as many women are still
breastfeeding at the time of presentation, it is not generally desirable or necessary to stop breastfeeding for a radioactive iodine uptake and scan. Obviously, breastfeeding women should not have tests with radioactive isotopes as small amounts of the isotopes can be passed along in the breast milk, which is to be avoided.
HOW IS THYROIDITIS TREATED? In the first phase (hyper thyroidism), usually don’t need treatment because symptoms are mild and brief. If your symptoms are extreme, however, you can prescribe a beta blocker (e.g.,
propranolol, atenolol, or metoprolol) to slow the hear t rate and lessen nervousness and shakes. As symptoms improve, the medication is tapered off since the thyrotoxic phase is transient. Antithyroid medications are not used for the thyrotoxic phase since the thyroid is not overactive. In the second phase (hypothyroidism), if the patient has few,
if any, symptoms, no therapy may be necessary. Thyroid hormone therapy is given if you develop symptoms. Levothyroxine is the product of choice. It is a synthetic form of T4. After six to 12 months, the medication is stopped to see whether the thyroid will function normally on its own. In most cases the thyroid returns to normal but some women do develop long-term hypothyroidism and need lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
FURTHER READING American Thyroid Association:
www.thyroid.org Medline Plus:
www.medlineplus.gov/ Thyroid Foundation of America:
www.allthyroid.org
028 ARAB HEALTH MAGAZINE ISSUE 2 2012
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