Abnormalities of Thyroid Function | Hormones

The following points highlight the five major abnormalities of thyroid function. The abnormalities are: 1. Cretinism 2. Myxoedema 3. Hashimoto’s Disease 4. Toxic Goitre 5. Grave’s Disease.

Thyroid Function: Abnormality # 1. Cretinism:

a. Growth in children is retarded.

b. The child is mentally defective. He has coarse scanty hair and thick yellowish scaly skin.

c. Cretinism occurs in areas where goitre is prevalent.

Thyroid Function: Abnormality # 2. Myxoedema:

a. Puffiness of the face and hands in adults.

b. Retention of water and NaCl in the body.

c. BMR is low.

d. Body temperature and pulse rate are sub­normal.

e. Body weight is increased due to deposi­tion of fat and retention of water.

f. Mental faculties are retarded.

g. Hypochlorhydria or achlorhydria is present.

h. Blood cholesterol and lipid levels are in­creased.

Thyroid Function: Abnormality # 3. Hashimoto’s Disease:

a. Thyroglobulin escapes from the cells of the gland and excites the production of antibodies which produce reactions with thyroid.

b. Fibrosis of the thyroid tissue develops leading to complete loss of thyroid func­tion.

Severe hyperthyroidism leads to toxic goiter. This occurs mostly in women.

Thyroid Function: Abnormality # 4. Toxic Goitre:

a. The patient complains of nervousness, rest­lessness, tiredness, undue sweating, breathlessness on exertion, tachycardia and palpitations.

b. The subject cannot tolerate warm climate but can tolerate severe cold climate.

Thyroid Function: Abnormality # 5. Grave’s Disease:

a. This disease is the result of hyperthy­roidism and is caused by the production of thyroid-stimulating IgG (TSI) that acti­vates the TSH receptor.

b. This causes a diffuse enlargement of the thyroid and excessive, uncontrolled pro­duction of T₃ and T₄.

c. Findings are multi systemic and include rapid heart rate, widened pulse pressure, nervousness, inability to sleep, weight loss in spite of increased appetite, weakness, excessive sweating, sensitivity to heat, and moist skin.

d. This disease is treated by blocking hor­mone production with an anti-thyroid drug, by ablating the gland with a radioactive isotope of iodide (such as ¹³¹I). Occasion­ally, the gland is removed surgically.