Autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) is a multifactorial, genetic disease. It is
the sequelae of the impaired immunoregulation, tolerance and poor recognition
of one?s own proteins, oligopolysaccharides and polypeptides, due to
development of somatic lymphocyte mutations. It is manifested by different
clinical and morphological entities, inter-related by etiopathogenetic
association, i.e., all of them are caused by disorder of immune system
regulation. Chronic autoimmune thyroidism (Thyreoiditis lymphocytaria
Hashimoto, HT), as well as immunogenic hyperthyroidism (Morbus Graves
Basedow, MGB) are frequently associated with autoimmune diseases of other
organs, such as: chronic insufficiency of salivary glands (Sy Sj?gren),
autoimmune hemolytic anemia, megalocytic pernicious anemia, thrombocytopenia,
Rheumatoid arthritis, Diabetes mellitus (more often type 2, but also type 1),
Morbus Addison, Coeliakia, and other autoimmune diseases such as systemic
diseases of connecting tissue (Lupus erythematosus-SLE, Sclerodermia,
Vasculitis superficialis). The incidence of autoimmune diseases has been at
increase in all age groups of our population. The prevalence of
organ-specific and organ-nonspecific antibodies increases with the age.
Antigenicity of thyroid epithelial cell may be triggered by different
chemical and biological agents (repeated viral infections), repeated stress,
and in individuals with genetic propensity. Unrecognized ATD progressively
leads to hypothyroidism with hyperlipidemia, blood vessel changes,
osteoporosis, deformities, invalidity which substantially reduces the quality
of life of patient and requires medical attention and expensive treatment on
what account it is medically and socio-economically significant. Multiple
diagnostic procedures contribute to faster recognition of this condition. The
goal of the primary health care physician (given that preclinical phase of
ATD and other associated diseases have different duration) and other
specialists is to recognize ATD and, by early diagnosis and multidisciplinary
treatment, to take secondary preventive measures of manifestation of
above-mentioned associated autoimmune diseases, and in that way, to avoid the
development of comorbidity and complications. It is particularly supported by
medical doctrine based on evidence of application of corticosteroids,
cytostatics, thyro-suppressive and substitution therapy, antilipemics,
bisphosphonates and other drugs, significant for autoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune thyroid disease and associated rheumatic disorders
