THYROTOXICOSIS (HYPERTHYROIDISM) - Thyroiditis



Transient thyrotoxicosis may be a feature of subacute granulomatous and lymphocytic thy­roiditis. Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis is viral in origin, whereas lymphocytic thyroiditis probably results from autoimmune injury. The thyrotoxicosis associated with subacute granu­lomatous thyroiditis is generally mild, and symptomatic therapy is rarely needed. However, patients with subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis may need therapy for more prolonged and severe thyrotoxicosis. The latter condition is estimated to cause 15 to 20 per cent of thyrotoxicosis in adults and is also a common cause of postpartum thyroiditis. Both forms of thyroiditis are charac­terized by low RAIU tests. It is important to dif­ferentiate thyroiditis from Graves’ disease, since therapy with 131I or surgery is not indicated and antithyroid drugs (PTU or methimazole) are not effective. These patients are treated symptomati-cally with beta-blockers (propranolol) until re­mission occurs.





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