Hashimoto’s Disease

Hashimoto’s disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland. This attack on the gland can lead to inflammation and ultimately, the gland not working appropriately (hypothyroidism). This inflammation can also lead to thyroid nodule formation. As with  other thyroid diseases, our office can diagnosis Hashimoto’s disease with blood work. The blood work for Hashimoto’s is TSH, free T3, free T4, thyroidperoxidase antibody and antithyroglobulin antibody.

There is no real treatment for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, but once your thyroid hormone levels are affected, then you can be started on thyroid hormone replacement.  Hashimoto’s also runs in families. In our recent study on 2,500 patients with thyroid nodules, we examined the relationship between autoimmune thyroid disease and cancer. We found that patients with autoimmune thyroid disease may be at higher risk for thyroid cancer. Specifically, elevated antithyroglubulin antibody level was an independent risk factor for thyroid malignancy. 

For more information on Hashimoto’s Disease:

Visit the Hashimoto’s Disease section on the Mayo Clinic website