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Silent thyroiditis natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Furqan M M. M.B.B.S[2]

Overview

Silent thyroiditis presents with the symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. It further leads to a euthyroid phase and eventually hypothyroid phase before the complete resolution of the disease. Complications may include hypothyroidism.

Natural history, complications, and prognosis

Natural history

Silent thyroiditis presents as painless thyroid gland with symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. It further leads to an euthyroid phase and eventually hypothyroid phase before the complete resolution of the disease.[1][2][3][4]

Hyperthyroid stage

It follows the prodromal stage and includes the symptoms of thyrotoxicosis such as:

Euthyroid stage

Thyrotoxic stage is followed by a 1–3-week period of euthyroid phase.

Hypothyroid stage

The transient hypothyroid stage lasts for 6-12 months.

  • Rarely, the hypothyroid stage may persist for a longer duration.

Complications

Complications that can develop as a result of silent thyroiditis include:[1][5][4]

Prognosis

Prognosis of silent thyroiditis is usually good.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 “Thyroiditis — NEJM”.
  2. Samuels MH (2012). “Subacute, silent, and postpartum thyroiditis”. Med. Clin. North Am. 96 (2): 223–33. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2012.01.003. PMID 22443972.
  3. Walker P (1984). “Silent thyroiditis”. Can Fam Physician. 30: 1337–9. PMC 2153523. PMID 21278944.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Díez JJ (1995). “[Silent thyroiditis and postpartum thyroiditis]”. Aten Primaria (in Spanish; Castilian). 16 (3): 147–50. PMID 7647209.
  5. Noh JY (2012). “[Silent thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis]”. Nippon Rinsho (in Japanese). 70 (11): 1945–50. PMID 23214066.

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