Hyperthyroidism

Big picture

Hyperthyroidism means the thyroid gland is producing too much thyroid hormone. Clinically, the patient is in a hypermetabolic and hyperadrenergic state:

weight loss + good appetite + tremor + sweating + heat intolerance + tachycardia = hyperthyroidism until proven otherwise.

The most common causes to know for the exam are:

1. Graves disease — autoimmune, diffuse toxic goiter, ophthalmopathy possible.
2. Toxic multinodular goiter — older patient, nodular thyroid, iodine deficiency background.
3. Toxic adenoma — one autonomous “hot” nodule.
4. Thyroiditis — release of preformed hormone, painful or painless, low radioiodine uptake.
5. Drug/iodine-induced — especially amiodarone.

Modern guidelines emphasize that treatment depends on the cause: antithyroid drugs, radioiodine, and surgery are the main disease-specific options, while beta-blockers rapidly control symptoms. ([PubMed][1])

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