Clinical manifestations and treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis

Dysfunction of thyroid functionglands are in the form of hyper- or hypothyroidism. Also isolated autoimmune thyroiditis, euthyroidism (a condition characterized by normal secretory activity of the thyroid gland).

Almost 50% of women aged 50 yearssuffer from this pathology. It has a chronic course and is characterized by an autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid gland, which, according to clinical manifestations, resembles hypothyroidism and arises from immunological disorders in which antibodies to tyro- cytes are formed. Treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis in this case is carried out taking into account the volume of lesions of thyroid cells.

Clinical manifestations

With a preserved thyroid function, any complaintsare absent. Only in some cases, patients can complain of minor discomfort in the anterior region of the neck, as well as intolerance of scarves or collars.

With expressed hypothyroidism (secretoryinsufficiency of the thyroid gland), the patients become pale, with a blushing face, weak facial expressions, slow movements and indistinct speech. They complain of pronounced weakness, reduced performance and drowsiness, hoarseness and poor memory, and frequent constipation. Women have a menstrual cycle, mastopathy develops. In men, libido decreases, impotence occurs. Slow physical and mental development is observed in children.

If the cells damage the thyroid gland in the bloodthere are many hormones. This leads to the appearance of clinical signs of hyperthyroidism - limb tremor, sweating, tachycardia and high blood pressure.

How to treat autoimmune thyroiditis?Therapy of this pathology is carried out after the results of blood tests for the level of antibodies and hormones are obtained, as well as after the ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland, if necessary after biopsy.

Treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis by traditional methods

The basis of treatment is a substitutionhormonal therapy. The drug "L-thyroxine" is prescribed most often. This hormone should be taken even in cases when there are no obvious signs of thyroid dysfunction. This is due to the following properties of the drug:

• Suppresses the synthesis of thyroid-stimulating hormone;

• prevents the deficiency of the thyroid gland;

• neutralizes lymphocytes that destroy the thyroid gland.

Treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis can alsoinclude the reception of "thyroidin", "thyroxine", "triiodothyronine hydrochloride." If adequate replacement therapy does not produce the desired results, corticosteroids are used.

With malignant degeneration of the thyroid gland, as well as with compression of the trachea or esophagus, an operative treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis is performed.

In the treatment of this disease can alsouse folk remedies based on pine buds, beet and carrot juice, sea kale, plantain, horsetail field. The duration of treatment depends on the effect obtained. But it is worth remembering that in any form of thyroid lesions, one should not self-medicate and use folk remedies in isolation from traditional methods of therapy. Only an integrated approach can provide positive results.