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Autoimmune Thyroid

Meaning

Autoimmune Thyroid disease is a clinical condition characterized by the immune system mistakenly attacking the thyroid gland, the body’s primary endocrine regulator of metabolism. This immune assault leads to chronic inflammation and gradual destruction of the thyroid tissue, resulting in either hypothyroidism, known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or transient hyperthyroidism followed by hypothyroidism. The presence of specific thyroid autoantibodies, such as anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin (TgAb), confirms the diagnosis of this systemic endocrine disorder. Understanding this condition requires recognizing the interplay between genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers on immune tolerance.