Definition
Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) are a group of organ-specific autoimmune disorders characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland, related to the production of pathogenic thyroid autoantibodies.
AITDs are the most frequent cause of acquired thyroid dysfunction, whether hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis). The two most common autoimmune thyroid diseases are GD and HT. GD, also designed as Basedow’s disease, is the most frequent form of hyperthyroidism in iodine-sufficient country. HT, which is also called chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, represents the most frequent form of spontaneous hypothyroidism.
Occasionally, the laboratory finding of thyroid autoimmunity (positive thyroid autoantibodies, TRAb) not associated with overt thyroid disease or thyroid dysfunction.
Clinical Features
Incidence, Age and Sex
The...
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References and Further Reading
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Tanda, M.L. (2022). Autoimmune Thyroid Disease. In: van Krieken, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28845-1_5285-1
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