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Inflammation and Thyroid

Meaning

Inflammation and Thyroid describes the intricate and often detrimental bidirectional relationship between systemic inflammatory processes and the function of the thyroid gland, a master regulator of metabolism and hormonal balance. Chronic inflammation, mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, can impair the thyroid gland’s ability to synthesize and release hormones, as well as disrupt the peripheral conversion of the inactive T4 to the active T3 hormone. This interaction is central to understanding autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, where the immune system attacks the gland.