What are the clinical manifestations of postpartum thyroiditis?

Postpartum thyroiditis is a relatively common phenomenon. After this condition occurs, it is particularly harmful to the body of many postpartum mothers. Therefore, many women want to know the specific clinical manifestations of postpartum thyroiditis in order to cure this disease as soon as possible. In order for you to understand it as soon as possible and to recover as soon as possible, please take a look at the following answers.

Overview:

Postpartum thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroiditis that occurs after childbirth. Patients generally have latent autoimmune thyroiditis, and pregnancy as a trigger promotes the transformation of the disease from a subclinical form to a clinical form. Chinese scholars reported that the prevalence rate was 11.9%. Postpartum thyroiditis is divided into three stages: hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and recovery. However, in 20% of cases, hypothyroidism cannot be recovered and develops into permanent hypothyroidism. Not all cases have stage III symptoms. About 26% have stage III symptoms, about 38% have only hyperthyroidism symptoms, and about 36% have only hypothyroidism symptoms. Since this disease has three stages, the symptoms are diverse and lack specificity, and most primary care doctors are unfamiliar with the disease, it is easy to cause misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment.

Pathological mechanism of postpartum thyroiditis:

Postpartum thyroiditis is a clinical form of latent autoimmune thyroiditis that occurs after childbirth when the immune suppression mechanism is lifted. Excessive iodine intake is one of the factors that induce its occurrence.

Clinical manifestations:

Divided into three periods:

1. Hyperthyroidism stage: symptoms such as palpitations, fatigue, heat intolerance, and emotional agitation.

2. Hypothyroidism stage: muscle and joint pain and stiffness, fatigue, inattention, constipation, etc.

3. Recovery period: no obvious clinical manifestations.

How is postpartum thyroiditis diagnosed?

1. Thyroid dysfunction (thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism or both) occurs within one year after delivery;

2. The course of the disease presents biphasic changes of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism or is self-limiting;

3. The thyroid gland is mildly or moderately enlarged, with a moderate texture but no tenderness;

4. Serum TRAb is generally negative.

What diseases should be differentiated from postpartum thyroiditis:

Differentiation from postpartum Graves' hyperthyroidism: Postpartum Graves' disease often has a history of Graves' disease before delivery or is accompanied by characteristic manifestations of Graves' disease, such as infiltrative exophthalmos, etc., and the hyperthyroidism symptoms are more severe; the 131 iodine uptake rate is increased; and TRAb is positive.

Treatment of postpartum thyroiditis:

Hyperthyroidism stage: Antithyroid drugs can generally be used for treatment;

Hypothyroidism stage: give levothyroxine replacement therapy.

What are the clinical manifestations of postpartum thyroiditis? The above is a detailed introduction. As many postpartum mothers, in order to prevent thyroiditis from affecting their physical health, they must have a comprehensive understanding of the above clinical manifestations, and then go to a regular hospital for specific examinations and treatments. I believe they will recover as soon as possible.