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Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease)

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Hashimoto's thyroiditis; Struma lymphomatosa; Lymphadenoid goiter; Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis; Autoimmune thyroiditis

Treatment:

A deficiency of thyroid hormone may develop at a later time. Replacement therapy with thyroid hormone (levothyroxine) is given if the hormone is deficient or may be given if there is evidence of mild thyroid failure (such as elevated TSH), also known as subclinical hypothyroidism. If there is no evidence of thyroid hormone deficiency, treatment may be limited to regular observation by a health care provider.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome is usually very good because the disease remains stable for years or progresses slowly to a condition of thyroid hormone deficiency (hypothyroidism) that can be treated with thyroid replacement therapy.

Complications:

• can be associated with other autoimmune disorders

Calling your health care provider:

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

• Review Date: 5/12/2006
• Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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