Medical Health Encyclopedia

There are three forms but they all have a similar course:

Painless Postpartum Subacute Thyroiditis. Postpartum thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition that occurs in up to 10% of pregnant women and tends to develop between 4 and 12 months after delivery. In most cases, a woman develops a small, painless goiter. It should be noted that only about a third of these women go through the classic three phases typical of other forms of subacute thyroiditis. Although 80% of women with this condition have normal thyroid function within a year, some evidence suggests that half of women with this condition develop permanent hypothyroidism within seven years. Women at higher risk are those who have had recurrent episodes after previous pregnancies and women who have other autoimmune disorders. It is generally self-limiting and requires no therapy unless the hypothyroid phase is prolonged. In such case, thyroxine replacement may be given for a few months. If the hyperthyroid phase requires treatment, beta blockers are typically used.

Painless Sporadic, or Silent, Thyroiditis. This is a painless condition and is very similar to postpartum thyroiditis except it can occur in both men and women and at any age. It can recur, but the risk of recurrence has not been determined. About 20% develop chronic hypothyroidism. Treatment considerations are the same as postpartum subacute thyroiditis.

Text Continues Below

---

Painful, or Granulomatous, Thyroiditis. This condition comes on suddenly with flu-like symptoms and severe neck pain and swelling. It generally occurs in the summer and is five times more common in women. This condition recurs in about 2% of patients and hypothyroidism persists in about 5%. Treatments typically include pain relievers and, in severe cases, corticosteroids.

Hyperthyroidism Treatments

Up to half or more of patients who receive radioactive iodide treatments for an overactive thyroid develop permanent hypothyroidism within a year of therapy. This is the standard treatment for Graves' disease, which is the most common form of hyperthyroidism, a condition caused by excessive secretion of thyroid hormones.