Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease) - Treatment

Alternative Names

Hashimoto's thyroiditis; Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis; Autoimmune thyroiditis

Treatment:

A lack of thyroid hormone may develop. You may receive thyroid hormone replacement therapy (levothyroxine) if your body is not producing enough of the hormone. Or, you may receive it if you have signs of mild thyroid failure (such as elevated TSH). This condition is also known as subclinical hypothyroidism.

If there is no evidence of thyroid hormone deficiency, you may just need regular observation by a health care provider.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome is usually very good. The disease stays stable for years. If it does slowly progress to thyroid hormone deficiency (hypothyroidism), it can be treated with thyroid replacement therapy.

Complications:

This condition can occur with other autoimmune disorders. In rare cases, thyroid cancer may develop.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of chronic thyroiditis.

Endocrine glands

Thyroid enlargement - scintiscan

Hashimoto's disease (chronic thyroiditis)

Thyroid gland

Reviewed last on: 4/19/2010
Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Ladenson P, Kim M. Thyroid. In: Goldman L and Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders; 2007:chap 244.

Brent GA, Larsen PR, Davies TF. Hypothyroidism and thyroiditis. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 12.

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