Thyroid Risk Factors And Complications

Question 1

Why is hypothyroidism a risk factor for hypercholersterolaemia?

Answer 1

The liver requires thyroxine in order to stimulate cholesterol uptake from serum.

When someone is hypothyroid, their liver doesn’t uptake as many LDLs, and so we have cholesterol building up in serum, and the risk factor for ACS, CAD, stroke, TIA etc

Question 2

What are the risk factors for postpartum thyroiditis?

Answer 2

Recent birth.

History of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Question 3

What are the risk factors for hypothyroidism?

Answer 3

Female gender (10 times more likely to have Hashimoto’s than men)

Age 40+

Family history of thyroid disease

Family history of autoimmune disorders

Autoimmune disorders: T1DM, Addison’s disease, pernicious anemia

Turner and Down’s syndrome

Head and neck radiotherapy

Radioiodine treatment

Iodine deficiency

Amiodarone, interferon, rifampicin or lithium use

Past history of brain cancer or metastatic cancer

Question 4

What are the risk factors for hyperthyroidism?

Answer 4

Family history of Graves’ disease

Family history or personal history of autoimmune disease (T1DM)

Female

Tobacco use

Low iodine intake

Interferon

Amiodarone

Rifampicin

Lithium

Question 5

What are the complications of hyperthyroidism?

Answer 5

AF

Angina

Neonatal hyperthyroidism (A pregnancy complication: antibodies crossing the placenta)

Osteoporosis

Liver derangement (due to thyroxine affecting it too much: LDL uptake)

Question 6

Which type of thyroid cancer is associated with phaeochromocytoma (adrenal tumour)?

Answer 6

Medullary cell carcinoma

The second most common thyroid cancer.

Question 7

Which is at risk of osteoporosis: hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism?

Answer 7

Hypothyroidism: they have no thyroxine suppression of osteoclast activity.