Causes
Hashimoto's thyroiditis occurs when:
- Immune system produces antibodies that attack cells of the thyroid gland, causing chronic thyroid swelling and loss of function
-
Other causes:
- Idiopathic thyroid atrophy—destruction of thyroid tissue for unknown reasons
- Iodine deficiency—when a thyroid gland needs iodine to produce thyroid hormone (rare in the US)
- Subacute thyroiditis—following a viral upper respiratory tract infection
- Medical treatments— radiation to the head and neck or surgical removal of part of the thyroid gland (called subtotal thyroidectomy )
- Medications (eg, lithium , iodine, alpha-interferons, thiourea, amiodarone , interleukins)
- Certain diseases (eg, cancer or infection)
- Pituitary adenoma —benign tumor of the pituitary gland
Risk Factors
These factors increase your chance of developing hypothyroidism:
Risk factors include:
- Age: risk increases with age, especially over 65 years old
- Sex: more common in females
- Genetics: multiglandular autoimmune syndrome
- Ethnicity: Caucasian, Hispanic
- History of family members with hypothyroidism
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History of other autoimmune diseases:
- Pernicious anemia
- Type 1 diabetes
- Underactive adrenal or parathyroid glands
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
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