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Home Books Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 8e

Chapter 228: Hypothyroidism

Alzamani Mohammad Idrose

INTRODUCTION AND EPIDEMIOLOGY

Hypothyroidism is a clinical syndrome caused by insufficient thyroid hormone production, which slows cell metabolism. Hypothyroidism is common in areas where iodine deficiency is common, particularly inland areas where there is no access to marine foods. In iodine-sufficient areas, chronic autoimmune destruction of thyroid gland (e.g., Hashimoto's thyroiditis) and iatrogenic causes from treatment of Graves' disease are the leading causes of hypothyroidism (after thyroidectomy or radioactive iodine ablation). The prevalence of hypothyroidism increases with age, and the disorder is nearly 10 times more common in females than in males.1 Subclinical hypothyroidism is more prevalent than overt hypothyroidism in all age groups and can be seen in 4% to 15% of women, especially the elderly.2,3

Hypothyroidism occurs in 1% to 32% of patients taking amiodarone.1

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Primary hypothyroidism is caused by the intrinsic dysfunction of the thyroid gland, and this is the most common type. Secondary hypothyroidism is caused by a deficiency of thyroid-stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland or deficiency of thyrotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus. Table 228-1 lists common causes of hypothyroidism. Euthyroid sick syndrome or low thyroxine syndrome, also called nonthyroidal illness, is the term used for patients with low triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels and a normal or low thyroid-stimulating hormone level, but who are clinically euthyroid. This condition is found in critically ill patients or those with severe systemic illness.

TABLE 228-1Common Causes of Hypothyroidism
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TABLE 228-1 Common Causes of Hypothyroidism
Primary Hypothyroidism (disorders of thyroid gland) Secondary Hypothyroidism (disorders at hypothalamic-pituitary axis)
Autoimmune etiologies (Hashimoto's) Panhypopituitarism
Thyroiditis (subacute, silent, postpartum)* Pituitary adenoma
Iodine deficiency Infiltrative causes (e.g., hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis)
After ablation (surgical, radioiodine)  
After external radiation Tumors impinging on the hypothalamus
Infiltrative disease (lymphoma, sarcoid, amyloidosis, tuberculosis)

History of brain irradiation

Infection (e.g., tuberculosis of the brain)
Other Causes

Congenital

Drugs affecting thyroid gland function

  • Amiodarone

  • Lithium

  • Potassium perchlorate

  • Iodine (in patients with preexisting autoimmune disease)

  • α-Interferon

  • Interleukin-2

Idiopathic

*Self-limiting etiologies, often preceded by hyperthyroid phase before getting into hypothyroid phase.

Triiodothyronine is the major form of thyroid hormone. The ratio of triiodothyronine to thyroxine released in the blood is about 10:1. Peripherally, triiodothyronine is converted to the active thyroxine, which is three to four times more potent than triiodothyronine. The half-life of triiodothyronine is 7 days, and the half-life of thyroxine is about 1 day.

CLINICAL FEATURES OF HYPOTHYROIDISM

Symptoms can manifest in all organ systems and range in severity based on the degree of hormone deficiency (Table 228-2).

TABLE 228-2Symptoms and Signs of Hypothyroidism
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TABLE 228-2 Symptoms and Signs of Hypothyroidism
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The common clinical features of hypothyroidism are listed in Table ...

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