Special cases of thyroid problems
- By:groshan fabiola
Thyroid cancer is a problem that may occur in special situations or may develop secondary to another disease. What we are going to talk about is the special situations when thyroid problems may occur.
Pregnancy is a special situation for developing thyroid diseases. Thyroid disease is seen in many women being almost common. Primary hypothyroidism requires T4 replacement therapy, which before pregnancy, in most of the cases, entails incremental doses. Some specialists advise for a dosage increase of more than 50 % during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. A close monitoring of free T4 along with serum TSH is recommended during these special cases. If hypothyroidism is easily treatable not the same thing can be said about hyperthyroidism in pregnancy. Antithyroid drugs are the only ones indicated for this type of thyroid disease, while RAI is totally contraindicated during pregnancy. Women are not allowed to conceive if are receiving RAI for at least six months after the treatment. Graves’ disease is a hyperthyroid problem that need close monitoring from the specialists. Another option for treating this problem is surgical treatment. The dosage should be as low as possible in order to the free T4 and serum TSH at normal ranges. Antithyroid drugs are recommended for the future mother because otherwise problems such as growth retardation, stillbirth or foetal Graves’ disease may occur for the infant. If taken by the mother these drugs cross the placenta and the risk will not be as high as before.
There is also a problem if mothers feed their babies with breast milk during treatment with antithyroid drugs. A high protein treatment called Propylthuioracil is preferred in these cases.
Children also represent a special category of thyroid disease patients. Even if hypo or hyperthyroidism affects them they need urgent care and treatment. For hypothyroidism a dose of 5 to 8 mg per kg per day of T4 is recommended. Hyperthyroidism needs to be treated with antithyroid medication or surgery. A radioactive iodine treatment is not frequently used in children because it is getting useful in cases of refractory thyroid disease.
Thyroid problems in the elderly are not treated different from other thyroid diseases but it is recommended for the treatment to be instituted slowly. The dosage of treatment should be increased with 25 mg at every four to six weeks.
Amiodarone is the main cause that determines thyroid dysfunctions. Amiodarone reduces the conversion of T4 to T3 and as a conclusion we may observe that the level of T4 increases a T3 level lowers. Hypothyroidism caused by amiodarone is easy to treat with the corner stone being T4 replacement. Hypothyroidism is not that easy to treat. Its curing requires antithyroid drugs, beta blockers and sometimes steroids.About the author:
For more info regarding thyroid problems please check http://www.thyroid-info-center.com/thyroid-treatment.htm or http://www.thyroid-info-center.com/thyroid-treatment.htm