What is the cause of thyroid atrophy

When it comes to thyroid diseases, thyroid atrophy is rarely seen. In fact, thyroid atrophy is likely caused by disease. The occurrence of thyroid atrophy will cause the patient to experience symptoms of hypothyroidism. So, what causes thyroid atrophy? We will introduce it to you below. We hope that if you encounter thyroid atrophy, you will seek timely treatment.

The causes of hypothyroidism are as follows: 1. Autoimmune damage: The most common cause is autoimmune thyroiditis, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, atrophic thyroiditis, subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis and postpartum thyroiditis. 2. Thyroid destruction: including surgery and radioactive iodine treatment. 3. Excessive iodine: Excessive iodine can cause transient hypothyroidism and can also induce and aggravate autoimmune thyroiditis. 4. The use of antithyroid drugs, such as lithium salts and thiourea drugs.

Thyroid atrophy is common in chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, etc., and people with secondary hypothyroidism also have shrunken glands. Your thyroid antibodies are high and you are still in the early stages of hypothyroidism. You can choose replacement therapy. The replacement must start with a small dose and increase the dose once every 2 to 3 months as needed until the best effect is achieved. The doctor asked: The thyroid gland cannot usually be touched, so why do you feel it is small? Those receiving long-term replacement therapy should pay attention to monitoring their body weight, heart function, etc. to prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis, pseudotumor cerebri, or worsening of coronary heart disease caused by excessive TH.

Hypothyroidism (abbreviated as hypothyroidism) is a disease in which the body's metabolism is reduced due to reduced synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones, or insufficient physiological effects. According to its cause, it is divided into three categories: primary hypothyroidism, secondary hypothyroidism and peripheral hypothyroidism.

Clinical manifestations

1. Pale complexion, puffy eyelids and cheeks, dull expression, dry, thickened, rough and scaly skin all over the body, non-pitting edema, hair loss, sallow hands and feet, weight gain, and a few patients have thick and brittle nails.

2. Neuropsychiatric system: memory loss, mental retardation, drowsiness, slow reaction, anxiety, dizziness, headache, tinnitus, deafness, nystagmus, ataxia, slow tendon reflexes, prolonged Achilles tendon reflex relaxation period, and in severe cases, dementia, stupor, and even coma may occur.

3. Cardiovascular system: bradycardia, decreased cardiac output, low blood pressure, dull heart sounds, enlarged heart, and coronary heart disease may occur, but angina pectoris and heart failure generally do not occur. Sometimes it may be accompanied by pericardial effusion and pleural effusion. Severe cases may develop myxedema cardiomyopathy.

4. Digestive system: anorexia, abdominal distension, constipation. In severe cases, paralytic ileus may occur. The gallbladder contraction weakens and becomes enlarged, and half of the patients suffer from gastric acid deficiency, leading to pernicious anemia and iron deficiency anemia.

5. Musculoskeletal system: muscle weakness, pain, and stiffness, which may be accompanied by joint diseases such as chronic arthritis.

6. Endocrine system: Excessive menstruation, amenorrhea due to long-term illness, and infertility in women; impotence and decreased libido in men. A small number of patients experience lactation and secondary pituitary enlargement.

7. When the condition is serious, stress such as cold, infection, surgery, anesthesia or improper use of sedatives may induce myxedema coma or "hypothyroidism crisis". Symptoms include hypothermia (T<35℃), slow breathing, bradycardia, decreased blood pressure, relaxation of limb muscles, weakened or disappeared reflexes, and even coma, shock, and heart and kidney failure.

8. Cretinism: dull expression, low and hoarse voice, pale face, periorbital swelling, widened distance between eyes, flat nose, thick lips and drooling, large and protruding tongue, short and thick limbs, and duck gait.

9. Juvenile hypothyroidism: short stature, low intelligence, and delayed sexual development.