ENDOCRINE - THYROID Flashcards
What do thyroid hormones regulate?
- metabolic rate
- heart rate
- digestive function
- muscle control
- brain development
What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
- heat intolerance
- weight loss
- diarrhoea
- tachycardia
- excitability
- tremors
- angina
- sweating
- arrhythmias
What are normal laboratory tests for hyperthyroidism?
- High T4 and T3
- Low TSH
What is the treatment for hyperthyroidism?
- First choice = carbimazole
- 2nd choice = propylthiouracil
What are the side effects of carbimazole?
- bone marrow suppression - report signs of infection
- rashes/itching - take antihistamine or switch to propylthiouracil
What are the side effects of propylthiouracil?
- hepatotoxicity - report signs of liver failure and stop
What are signs of thyrotoxicosis (excess of thyroid hormone in body)?
- increased heart rate
- tachycardia and arrhythmias
- heat intolerance >41 degrees
- diarrhoea, n&v, dehydration
- seizures, delirium, confusion, psychosis
What is the treatment for thyrotoxicosis?
- anti-thyroid drugs, fluids, hydrocortisone, radioactive sodium iodide solution
- propranolol for rapid symptom relief
How do you treat thyroidectomy?
- Iodine 10-14 days before partial thyroidectomy
- adjunct to anti-thyroid drugs but not long term
What are the treatments for hyperthyroidism (first and second trimester)?
- first = propylthiuracil
- second = carbimazole
What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
- cold intolerance
- weight gain
- constipation
- bradycardia
- lethargy
- muscle cramps
- slow movements
- slow thoughts
- depression
- hair thinning
What should laboratory results show for hypothyroidism?
- Low T4 and T3
- High TSH
What is the treatment for hypothyroidism?
- Levothyroxine
- Liothyronine (synthetic thyroid hormone as replacement therapy)
When would you question a dose of levothyroxine?
- If the dose was above 200
What instructions would you normally see on a levothyroxine label?
- In the morning
- 30 minutes before food, caffeine-containing products or other meds
