An Interview With Dr. Robert Aden: Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders
Dr. Robert Aden is board certified in internal medicine and endocrinology. In his Miami practice, he treats patients who have an array of endocrine disorders, such as type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism. He is also a member of multiple professional societies, including The Endocrine Society, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the American Diabetes Association. Recently, Dr. Aden answered questions about autoimmune thyroid disorders.
Question 1: What causes autoimmune thyroid disorders?
Dr. Aden: Autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system begins to attack organs in the body. For some unknown reason, the immune system cannot distinguish between native and foreign antigens. This reaction results in multiple forms of illness, including diabetes, Addison’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. In the case of autoimmune thyroid disorders, thyroid-reactive T-cells attack the thyroid gland.
Question 2: Are all thyroid diseases autoimmune?
Dr. Aden: No. Some forms of hypothyroidism are not autoimmune diseases. However, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease are the two major forms of thyroid autoimmune disorders.
Question 3: Can you describe each of those diseases?
Dr. Aden: With Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the body attacks the thyroid and the thyroid slowly loses it's ability to make thyroid hormone. When there's too little production of thyroid hormone, daily supplements of thyroid hormone must be taken. In Graves’ disease, the body makes antibodies that act like thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH). This causes production of too much thyroid hormone, leading to an overactive thyroid.
Question 4: What is the treatment for each of these disorders?
Dr. Aden: We treat Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with synthetic or natural thyroid medications and careful monitoring of thyroid levels. Because the disease is incurable, patients probably will be on hormone replacement for the rest of their lives. Graves’ disease is treated most commonly with either radioactive iodine or antithyroid medication to halt excess hormone production. As a result, patients become hypothyroid and then must take hormone replacement medication for life.
Dr. Robert Aden is board certified in internal medicine and endocrinology. In his Miami practice, he treats patients who have an array of endocrine disorders, such as type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism. He is also a member of multiple professional societies, including The Endocrine Society, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the American Diabetes Association. Recently, Dr. Aden answered questions about autoimmune thyroid disorders.
Question 1: What causes autoimmune thyroid disorders?
Dr. Aden: Autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system begins to attack organs in the body. For some unknown reason, the immune system cannot distinguish between native and foreign antigens. This reaction results in multiple forms of illness, including diabetes, Addison’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. In the case of autoimmune thyroid disorders, thyroid-reactive T-cells attack the thyroid gland.
Question 2: Are all thyroid diseases autoimmune?
Dr. Aden: No. Some forms of hypothyroidism are not autoimmune diseases. However, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease are the two major forms of thyroid autoimmune disorders.
Question 3: Can you describe each of those diseases?
Dr. Aden: With Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the body attacks the thyroid and the thyroid slowly loses it's ability to make thyroid hormone. When there's too little production of thyroid hormone, daily supplements of thyroid hormone must be taken. In Graves’ disease, the body makes antibodies that act like thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH). This causes production of too much thyroid hormone, leading to an overactive thyroid.
Question 4: What is the treatment for each of these disorders?
Dr. Aden: We treat Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with synthetic or natural thyroid medications and careful monitoring of thyroid levels. Because the disease is incurable, patients probably will be on hormone replacement for the rest of their lives. Graves’ disease is treated most commonly with either radioactive iodine or antithyroid medication to halt excess hormone production. As a result, patients become hypothyroid and then must take hormone replacement medication for life.
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