Euthyroidism is a condition bordering on a serious pathology of the thyroid gland.
Diseases of the thyroid gland - a common pathology, affecting the functioning of the body as a whole. Thus not always the analysis on hormones Т3, ТТГ and Т4 can find out disease. Such a pathological condition, in which the hormonal level remains normal, is euthyroidism.
Against the background of euthyroidism, a person can develop more severe pathologies, leading to irreversible changes in the thyroid gland. What is thyroid euthyroidism, is it dangerous and how to treat it? Everyone who cares about his health should know this.
Contents
- 1 Euthyroidism - what is it?
- 1.1 The etiology of euthyroidism - the main causes of
- 1.2 Classification of euthyroidism
- 2 Nodular goiter with euthyroidism
- 3 Symptoms of thyroid euthyroidism
- 4 Treatment of thyroid euthyroidism
- 4.1 Euthyroid surgery
- 5 Forecast
Euthyroidism - what is it?
Thyroid euthyroidism is a reversible change in the structure of an organ while maintaining its functionality. The symptomatic picture of euthyroid pathology excludes signs of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
Despite the fact that the thyroid gland reveals the proliferation of its tissues in the form of a diffuse increase or nodes, the hormone levels remain normal. However, this does not mean that a person is completely healthy .
Euthyroidism is a borderline condition in which the level of hormones at any time can change upwards or downwards.
The euthyroid state lasts a short time. Usually, on its background, more rapid changes occur, accompanied by hypo- or hyperfunctionality of the thyroid gland. That is why the timely detection and treatment of euthyroidism is so important.
Etiology of euthyroidism - the main causes of
The thyroid gland is very sensitive to various kinds of changes( both external and internal).Euthyroidism can be triggered by the following factors:
- deficiency of iodine supplied to the body with food;
- hereditary predisposition;
- adverse environmental factors;
- inflammatory pathology of the gland;
- nervous breakdowns, stress;
- autoimmune thyroiditis( euthyroidism, as the initial stage of autoimmune inflammation of the gland, can last for years).
Euthyroid status can be documented in pregnant women with previously diagnosed hyperthyroidism.normalization of the hormonal level during pregnancy occurs due to an increase in the body's need for thyroid hormones.
If physiological decline in the hormonal level does not occur, doctors resort to medical therapy. The normalization of hormonal parameters directly depends on the preservation of pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child.
That is why it is so important to achieve drug-induced euthyroidism during pregnancy in women who suffer from increased thyroid function.
Classification of euthyroidism
The degree of severity of pathological changes in endocrinology distinguishes between euthyroidism:
- 1 degree - enlargement of the gland is not determined visually, palpation also does not reveal abnormalities;
- 2 degrees - visually noticeable enlargement of the gland, but palpation does not work;
- 3 degree - an increase in thyroid tissue is noticeable on examination and is confirmed by palpation.
Nodular goiter with euthyroidism
Euthyroidism, provoked by a lack of iodine, is accompanied by a nodal goiter: diffuse growth of the thyroid gland and the formation of single or multiple nodes. Depending on the nature of the structural changes, several forms of nodular goiter are considered in euthyroidism:
- diffuse increase without nodal inclusions;
- identified single node;
- detected multiple nodes;
- multiple nodes, merging with each other.
Symptoms of thyroid euthyroidism
The very first on euthyroidism reacts to the nervous system. To suspect abnormalities associated with the thyroid gland, you can by the following symptoms:
- Rest in normal mode or normal sleep does not give the desired result. A person feels defeated, notes a growing weakness without reason. There is insomnia at night and drowsiness during the day.
- Acute reaction to irritants. Even a minimal discontent can develop into a major quarrel. In this case, a person suffering from euthyroidism is not only emotionally unstable, but also recovers from stormy experiences for a long time.
Increased excitability of the nervous system is accompanied by symptoms associated with the work of other organs and systems:
- Neck - there is a lump in the throat that makes it difficult to swallow; periodically or constantly the patient feels neck compression( sensation similar to strangulation from the rope around the neck);
- Heart - various violations of the rhythm of heartbeats from tachycardia( rapid heartbeat) to extrasystoles( extraordinary heart beats);
- Weight - for euthyroidism is characterized by a decrease in body weight for no apparent reason( against the background of normal diet, without dieting, in the absence of severe diseases of other organs).
The patient or doctor, when referred to a clinic, can visually or palpably enlarge the size of the gland and nodal inclusions. However, it is necessary to confirm the structural changes with the help of ultrasound. Also to confirm the diagnosis is mandatory and the analysis for thyroid hormones.
Normal hormonal parameters, together with an increase in the gland or the detection of nodes / cysts, are evidence of an euthyroid state. To differentiate euthyroidism from oncology, it is advisable to perform scintigraphy and biopsy of suspicious nodes.
Treatment of thyroid euthyroidism
Euthyroid status does not always require medical treatment. Thus, with a slight diffuse change in the thyroid gland and 1-2 nodes up to 0.8 cm in diameter( for example, in autoimmune euthyroidism), endocrinologists recommend only active observation: 1 every 6 months.should undergo an ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland.
For a patient wishing to maintain their health, such a tactic will not be difficult: an ultrasound is available in terms of cost.
If a patient has severe structural changes in the thyroid tissue in the presence of severe symptoms, a course of medication is prescribed.
- For the normalization of the patient's condition and, at least, the suspension of tissue growth, iodine preparations( Microroyod, Camphodal, Antistrum and others) or L-thyroxine( Levothyroxine) are prescribed.
The dosage of the drugs is determined individually. If there is no result of monotherapy, it is possible to prescribe a combination of Levothyroskin and iodine-containing drugs.
Follow-up ultrasound is performed every 3-6 months, after which the treatment regimen can be adjusted. A good result of treatment is the elimination of disturbing patients with euthyroid symptoms and the absence of further tissue increase.
With effective treatment over time, the thyroid gland comes to normal: the nodes disappear or decrease( 0.8 mm or less), and the regression of diffuse proliferation is noticeable.
Operation with euthyroidism
In the absence of minimal therapeutic effect( stabilization of the condition) from drug therapy, an endocrinologist can offer a surgical intervention.
The operation implies minimal excision of pathological elements( growing nodes) and partial resection of diffusely expanded tissue.
Now such operations are carried out by endoscopic access through mini-cuts. These results in minimal tissue trauma, which results in a short period of hospitalization( 2-3 days) and rapid recovery. This achieves an excellent cosmetic effect: on the neck there are only barely noticeable little scars.
The complexity of the operation in euthyroidism is that it is necessary to accurately determine the volume of excised tissue. Excessive excision can lead to postoperative hypothyroidism, and insufficient will not give the necessary therapeutic effect. Therefore, for carrying out such a surgical intervention, one should only apply to an experienced endocrinologist-surgeon.
Forecast
Timely treatment of euthyroidism provides a favorable prognosis. Minor changes in the structure of the thyroid gland can independently be eliminated when correcting the lifestyle: full nutrition, healthy sleep and rest, maintaining emotional stability.
In case of drug exposure in a sufficient dose( regular intake of medications prescribed by a doctor is necessary!) Pathological changes gradually regress.
The greatest danger is eutyroidism untreated or actively progressing against the background of drug treatment. In such cases, the risk of rapid development of irreversible changes in the thyroid gland and the violation of hormonal parameters are high.
In such cases, more serious therapy with hormones( for hypothyroidism) or their antagonists( with hyperthyroidism) is required.