Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Autoimmune Thyroiditis is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Hashimoto's disease
Lymphadenoid goiter
Struma lymphomatosa
Goitrous autoimmune thyroiditis
Chronic thyroiditis
Hashimoto's syndrome
Grave’s disease
Postpartum thyroiditis

Disorder Subdivisions

None

General Discussion

Autoimmune thyroiditis (AT), also known as Hashimoto’s disease, is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the thyroid gland that is caused by abnormal blood antibodies and white blood cells that mistakenly attack and damage healthy thyroid cells. It is a progressive disease that may destroy the thyroid gland, causing thyroid hormone deficiency (hypothyroidism). Autoimmune thyroiditis presents with various combinations of symptoms, making diagnosis difficult. This disease can occur at any age, but is most often seen in middle-aged women. In rare cases, it may be associated with other autoimmune endocrine disorders.

Resources

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
Tel: (914)428-7100
Fax: (914)997-4763
Tel: (888)663-4637
Email: Askus@marchofdimes.com
Internet: http://www.marchofdimes.com

Thyroid Foundation of America, Inc.
One Longfellow Place
Suite 1518
Boston, MA 02116
USA
Tel: 6175341500
Fax: 6175341515
Tel: 8008328321
Email: info@allthyroid.org
Internet: http://www.allthyroid.org

NIH/National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
2 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3570
Tel: (301)654-3810
Fax: (301)907-8906
Tel: (800)891-5389
Email: nddic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.niddk.nih.gov

Thyroid Foundation of Canada
797 Princess Street
Kingston
Ontario, Intl K7L 5J7
Canada
Tel: 6135448364
Fax: 6135449731
Tel: (800) 267-8822
Email: thyroid@kos.net
Internet: http://www.thyroid.ca

Thyroid Society for Education & Research
7515 S. Main
#545
Houston, TX 77030
Tel: (713)799-9909
Fax: (713)799-9919
Tel: (800)849-7643
Email: thyroid@neosoft.com
Internet: http://www.the-thyroid-society.org

American Foundation of Thyroid Patients
4322 Douglas Avenue
Midland, TX 79703
USA
Email: thyroid@flash.net
Internet: http://www.thyroidfoundation.org

Autoimmune Information Network, Inc
PO Box 4121
Brick, NJ 08723
Tel: (732)262-0450
Fax: (732)262-0450
Email: autoimmunehelp@aol.com
Internet: http://www.aininc.org

European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID)
c/o Dr. Esther de Vries
Jeroen Bosch Hospital
Dept. Paediatrics
P.O. Box 90153
Hertogenbosch, 5200 ME's
Netherlands
Tel: +31 73-6992965
Fax: +31 73-6992948
Email: info@esid.org
Internet: http://www.esid.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 7/23/2007
Copyright 1989, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2007 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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