Hashimoto’s disease, also called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is a common disease of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland, in the front of the neck, produces thyroid hormone. This hormone helps regulate metabolism (the conversion of nutrients into energy and living tissue) and plays an important role in many other bodily functions. In Hashimoto’s disease, the immune system produces abnormal antibodies (infection-fighting proteins) and leukocytes (inflammation-regulating white blood cells) that attack normal thyroid cells, harming their ability to function. Disorders, such as Hashimoto’s disease, in which the immune system attacks and destroys otherwise healthy tissue are known as autoimmune disorders. This autoimmune disorder takes its name from the Japanese physician Hakaru Hashimoto, who first described the disease in 1912.
Hashimoto’s disease occurs in women more often than in men. Symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease often develop slowly, and the disease can be difficult to diagnose. If the diseased thyroid gland cannot produce enough thyroid hormone to meet the body’s needs, hypothyroidism occurs. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, forgetfulness, muscle aches, weight gain, dry itchy skin, and constipation. In some patients, the thyroid gland enlarges to form a goiter.
Physicians use blood tests that measure thyroid function and thyroid gland-attacking antibodies to diagnose Hashimoto’s disease. They treat goiter and hypothyroidism using thyroid hormone pills. Hashimoto’s disease often permanently disables the thyroid gland, requiring patients to take thyroid-hormone supplements for the rest of their lives. Hashimoto’s disease sometimes accompanies other autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, Graves’ disease, and vitiligo.
See also Goiter ; Thyroid gland .
