Euthyroidism is a condition of the thyroid gland in which the functioning of the organ is disrupted, despite the fact that the level of thyroid and thyroid-stimulating hormones is normal. This term is usually used by clinicians to characterize the results of the analyzes obtained. But, despite the fact that clinical euthyroidism is a physiological condition, serious illnesses, such as endemic goiter or autoimmune thyroiditis, can begin to progress against its background.

These pathologies have a vivid clinical picture, the thyroid gland increases in size (the degree of increase directly depends on the severity of the disease). With euthyroidism, as with and, the patient has a diffuse change in the gland, as well as the formation of specific nodes (nodular goiter). If several such pathological formations are formed simultaneously, then in this case we are talking about a multinodular goiter of euthyroidism.

Etiology

The reasons for the progression of euthyroidism are quite diverse. The thing is that the organs of the endocrine system are very sensitive to various endogenous and exogenous factors. The thyroid gland is especially vulnerable. Euthyroidism is referred to by many clinicians as a borderline condition.

The ratio of thyroid hormones can change at any time - the level can both decrease and increase, as a result of which pathologies begin to progress (for example,).

Causes of euthyroidism:

• insufficient concentration of iodine in the body. This reason is the main one in the progression of thyroid pathologies - autoimmune thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, endemic goiter, etc.;
• unfavorable environment;
• heredity;
• pathologies of the thyroid gland, which are accompanied by severe inflammation (in this case, the symptoms of the disease will be very pronounced);
• stress;
• increased physical and psychological stress;
• reception medicines that inhibit the functioning of the thyroid gland;
• getting into the human body of some active substances - arsenic, strontium, cobalt, etc.

Symptoms

Symptoms of euthyroidism are directly related to the manifestations of the underlying disease. The very first symptom that occurs in a person is nervousness. Further increased fatigue joins. Later, the following symptoms join:

• discomfort in the neck area;
• a characteristic symptom of thyroid pathologies is a feeling of a lump in the throat;
• feeling of brokenness;
• headache may occur;
• drowsiness;
• enlargement of the thyroid gland. This symptom may indicate not only non-euthyroidism, but also more serious pathologies of the gland;
• a person gains weight very quickly, despite the fact that he continues to follow his usual diet;
• voice change. This symptom appears against the background of an increase in the size of the thyroid gland. In the future, a dry cough may occur.

Separately, it is worth highlighting the most common form of euthyroidism - nodular goiter. This condition is characterized by the appearance of pathological outgrowths on the gland. Clinicians distinguish 5 varieties of nodular goiter:

• endemic goiter, which progresses due to insufficient concentration of iodine in the body;
• nodular goiter, which is characterized by the binding of nodular formations;
• goiter with a single node;
• goiter with numerous nodules.

• 1 degree. At this stage of development, the thyroid gland is not enlarged and there is no possibility to palpate it;
• 2 degree. The gland can be felt;
• 3 degree. The outline of the gland can be seen when swallowing;
• 4 degree. The goiter is localized on a significant part of the neck;
• 5 degree. The gland is enlarged so much that it begins to put pressure on the tissues and organs surrounding it.

In the case of progression of nodular goiter, the overall clinical picture is supplemented by the following symptoms:

• discomfort in the chest area;

Treatment

Treatment of euthyroidism can be carried out only after the doctor has carried out, and also sent the patient for delivery. Depending on the results obtained, euthyroidism may not require specific treatment. We are talking about those cases when the gland is not enlarged and the hormonal background is stable. It is recommended to visit the endocrinologist regularly.

If the patient is concerned about certain symptoms described above, then the doctor resorts to drug treatment, the main purpose of which is to restore the functioning of the gland, as well as normalize its size.

Treatment is carried out with:

• a course of levothyroxine;
• preparations whose active substance is iodine.

Sometimes iodine preparations and levothyroxine can be prescribed simultaneously. In the case of a rapid increase in the thyroid gland, surgical treatment is indicated. Also, the operation is prescribed for nodular goiter with a large number of nodules.

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Dehydration is a process that appears due to a large loss of fluid by the body, the volume of which several times prevails over the volume that a person consumes. As a result, there is a disorder in the normal working capacity of the body. Often presents with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and increased sweating. It occurs most often in the hot season or when performing heavy physical exertion with not too much fluid intake. Every person is subject to such a disorder, regardless of gender and age, but according to statistics, children, elderly people are most often predisposed age group and people suffering from a chronic course of a disease.

Euthyroidism is a condition of the thyroid gland, in which this organ secretes a normal amount of thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)), but there are beginning changes in its anatomical structure. The thyroid-stimulating hormone of the pituitary gland TSH (thyrotropin) is also normal.

Causes of thyroid euthyroidism

Note:we can talk about the onset of euthyroidism when the growth of the thyroid gland begins, and the level of hormones does not change.

Most often, this condition is provoked by:

• a decrease in the amount supplied to the body;
• hormonal imbalance during pregnancy;
• the beginning of the development of autoimmune thyroiditis (euthyroid phase, which can last for years, or a lifetime);
• hereditary factor (the presence of a condition and diseases of the thyroid gland in the family);
• unfavorable ecological background;
• frequent inflammatory pathological processes in the gland tissue;
• taking medication (as a side effect);
• neuropsychic overload, stress and neurotic reactions, emotional and volitional disorders,

In asymptomatic cases, euthyroidism is an incidental diagnostic finding on ultrasound of the thyroid gland, radiological research methods, and MRI.

Euthyroidism, depending on the cause that caused it, can manifest itself:

The most common form of manifestation of euthyroidism is nodular goiter, accompanied by diffuse tissue growth.

Clinically, 4 forms of this disease are determined:

• nodular goiter with a single enlarged node;
• nodular goiter with multiple enlarged nodes;
• goiter, in which multiple nodes are combined with each other;
• nodular goiter caused by a deficiency of iodine in the body.

The severity of the process (WHO classification):

• 1 - during palpation, the thyroid gland is not felt and is not visually determined;
• 2 - on examination, the goiter is not visible, but palpable on palpation;
• 3 - the goiter is clearly palpable with a finger examination and is determined by visual examination.

With manifestations of euthyroid nodular non-toxic goiter, the patient may experience the following clinical manifestations of the process:

• weight loss and visible weight loss;
• uncomfortable sensations of a foreign body, bursting in the chest;
• violation of the rhythmic activity of the heart in the form of tachyarrhythmias, extraordinary contractions of the heart (extrasystoles) and other disorders.

The main diagnostic methods include:

• questioning the patient and examining the thyroid gland;
• assessment of the content of pituitary hormones (TSH) and thyroid gland (T3, T4);
• Ultrasound, which allows you to assess the condition of the thyroid gland, the size and presence of formations (cysts, nodes, etc.)

Additionally, radioisotope diagnostics (scintigraphy) is performed.

The tactics of treating the euthyroid state depends on the results of the diagnosis. In mild and stable cases, simple observation is carried out with control visits to the doctor, testing and ultrasound. On average, once every six months.

Note:with existing complaints, a choice is made between conservative and surgical methods of treatment.

The pronounced symptoms of euthyroidism and the patient's poor health allow him to prescribe iodine preparations (Antistrumin, Microiodine, Kamfiod, Camphodal, etc.), Levothyroxine.

With little effectiveness of conservative treatment, the presence of a large number voluminous nodes, cystic formations, progressive enlargement of the thyroid gland, surgical treatment is recommended. The operation is carried out with a mandatory cytological examination and biopsy of the material, to clarify the existing pathological process.

Traditional medicine methods in the treatment of euthyroidism

To be treated only folk methods in this case, it should not be, but as an additional therapeutic benefit, some recipes can be used home cooking. The endocrine function of the thyroid gland is supported and normalized by tincture of septa walnuts, infusion and decoction of chicory, sugar mixture of chokeberry.

It is good to include in the diet - kelp, shrimp, crabs.

Euthyroidism itself is a condition that does not require therapeutic measures, but only observation, but in the case when euthyroidism enters the disease phase, medical intervention is required. Compliance with the appropriate regimen, elimination of harmful factors, diet, regular examinations make the course of euthyroidism favorable.

Preventive measures for eutherosis

Doctors who diagnose diseases, especially during preventive examinations, should pay attention to patients who have a genetic predisposition to thyroid diseases.

People who have developed euthyroidism should avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, reduce exposure to stressful situations, and carry out rehabilitation measures for frequent diseases of the nasopharynx. You should also avoid living in environmentally unfavorable areas.

note: you should be especially careful when taking medications, in particular antibiotics and hormonal drugs.

During pregnancy, women with a tendency to pathology of the thyroid gland should take iodine preparations for prophylactic purposes, since pregnancy leads to an overstrain of the enzyme and hormonal systems of the body and the rapid development of a deficiency of essential minerals, elements and iodine.

People who have been diagnosed with euthyroidism should have regular check-ups with an endocrinologist, blood tests, and an ultrasound of the thyroid gland.

Lotin Alexander, medical columnist

Thyroid disease affects more and more people every year. During the examination, the doctor often writes - euthyroidism of the thyroid gland. What does the phrase mean, in what cases is it used and should I be afraid?

Euthyroidism of the thyroid gland: the meaning of the term

If we disassemble this term from the standpoint of the ancient Greek and Latin languages, then EV is translated as “good”, and DASH is the thyroid gland, and OZIS is a pathological process, non-inflammatory disease, condition. Thus, euthyroidism is an absolutely normal, physiological state of the thyroid gland, in which the hormonal background is stable and within the normal range.

Hormones and euthyroidism

Thyroid hormones have a wide spectrum of action, but their effect on the cell nucleus is especially significant. The lack or excess of these substances causes a malfunction of the entire human body. The main effects of gland hormones:

• regulation of metabolism;
• Stimulation of oxygen uptake;
• Growth regulation and tissue differentiation (especially, this action affects the human fetus);
• Influence on the nervous system (a small amount of hormones during the development of the fetus leads to severe pathology - mental retardation);
• Nervous regulation of various organs and tissues.

Given the enormous impact of thyroid hormones on humans, it is important to maintain and maintain physiological euthyroidism. In a healthy person, the normal content of thyroid hormones is as follows:

1. The amount of total thyroxine (T4) ranges from 62 to 141 nmol/l;
2. The norm of triiodothyronine (T3) is much less: 1.17-2.18 nmol / l;
3. The level of calcitonin is estimated in other units of measurement - pikamol per liter, its content in human blood is 5.5-28 pmol / l.

Since T3 and T4 are in human blood in two states - associated with proteins and free - the amount of free hormones is of great importance. The norm of free triiodothyronine is 0.4 ng / 100 ml, and thyroxine is 1.5-2.9 μg / 100 ml. It is these indicators that play a decisive role in determining violations of the euthyroid state.

Thyroid disorders and euthyroidism

There are a lot of diseases of the thyroid gland and in most cases they are accompanied by a violation of the euthyroid state. There are two types of violations:

1. - characteristic of endemic goiter - manifested by a decrease in the amount of thyroid hormones;
2. - occurs against the background of diffuse toxic goiter, adenomas and malignant neoplasms of the thyroid gland - it is characterized by high level hormones.

The symptoms of these pathologies are quite specific and appear during the manifestation of diseases. For hypothyroidism, the characteristic signs will be lethargy, drowsiness, extreme slowness, mental retardation, baldness, sudden weight gain, swelling of the face, arms and legs, chilliness.

With hyperthyroidism, the picture is just the opposite - excessive excitement, constant fussiness, haste, weight loss, trembling of fingers and hands, aggressiveness. Particularly interesting and peculiar symptoms of hormonal excess are exophthalmos - bulging eyes - and the growth of goiter(manifested by a lump on the front of the neck), but thanks to modern advances in medicine, these symptoms are already quite rare.

In rare cases, thyroid diseases are accompanied by euthyroidism - the hormonal background remains at the usual level. This is possible with a tumor lesion of the organ, on early stages development of HAIT, thyroiditis with transient thyrotoxicosis, with euthyroid form of goiter.

In such cases, instrumental methods of examination - ultrasound, MRI and CT - will be the main thing in the diagnosis of pathology.

Euthyroidism after surgery

With the pathological growth of the thyroid gland, the appearance of a tumor process, surgical intervention is performed. Depending on the disease, one lobe of the gland or the entire organ can be removed. Euthyroidism after removal of the thyroid gland is a priority task for an endocrinologist. The removal of an organ is accompanied by a sharp drop in thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism), which entails extremely serious consequences for the human body. Therefore, for treatment, the patient is prescribed a synthetic hormone - levothyroxine. Its dosage is selected so as to maintain the patient's medical euthyroidism - a normal level of thyroid hormones.

Treatment folk remedies after operations on the thyroid gland is strictly contraindicated - only replacement therapy with thyroid hormones will allow you to maintain a euthyroid state!

Euthyroidism and man

Thus, maintaining euthyroidism is the primary task of the thyroid gland. The person himself can help her in this. Since the state of the thyroid gland directly depends on the incoming iodine, foods rich in this substance will help maintain euthyroid balance. The diet should include seafood, seaweed, sea fish. In endemic areas, iodine is added to eggs, bread, and salt. But this may not be enough, so some categories of the population need to take iodine preparations (Iodomarin, potassium iodide) to prevent thyroid dysfunction: pregnant women, lactating women, children.

Thus, if at the appointment of an endocrinologist a person found out that he had euthyroidism and, according to ultrasound, the size of the thyroid gland was within the normal range, then this pleases - his gland is functioning normally.

Euthyroidism is a disorder in the structure and functioning of the thyroid gland. In medical terminology, euthyroidism is usually understood not as a disease, but as a condition bordering on an obvious pathology that requires medical supervision.

Causes

The level of hormones (TSH, T3 and T4) is normal, but the results of functional diagnostics show changes in the structure of the thyroid gland - euthyroid pathology.

The reasons for this phenomenon are due to:

Iodine deficiency in the body is the main cause of euthyroidism. Due to the lack of iodine, the thyroid gland begins to work actively, which contributes to its growth.

An excess of iodine in the body has the opposite effect compared to iodine deficiency and is expressed in the inhibition of the production of thyroid hormones.

Separately, the occurrence of drug-induced euthyroidism is distinguished against the background of taking certain drugs, the treatment of which is reduced to the abolition of the drugs used.

In children, eutheric pathology occurs as a complication after infectious diseases, the therapy of which was incomplete.

Diagnostic methods

Changes are detected using modern techniques:

Ultrasound is often used as the correct diagnostic method. Violation of the organ is manifested in the form of proliferation of thyroid tissue, which is not always homogeneous. In such cases, they talk about focal changes in the thyroid gland.

Focal changes - nodular formations and cystic inclusions. Their diameter does not exceed 10 mm. Formations can be both focal and diffuse (when the thyroid parenchyma is completely affected). Depending on the degree of damage, a diagnosis is made: nodular or diffuse nodular goiter.

In the absence of treatment, a further increase in the number of nodules and thyroid cells occurs. This leads to serious endocrine diseases:

progression of euthyroidism

A clinical case of euthyroidism progression is autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). It is characterized by a malfunction of the immune system, in which the body's antibodies destroy thyroid cells. The consequence of such a violation is the atrophy of the endocrine organ, followed by inhibition of hormone production.

AIT disease affects 5% of the population, unlike men, women are more susceptible to this pathology.

For children, AIT is dangerous and manifests itself in the form of a decrease in intelligence, lack of physical development, in girls - in violation of the menstrual cycle.

When autoimmune thyroiditis is detected, a biopsy of the organ is taken in order to exclude the development malignant neoplasms. Therefore, at the first symptoms of a malfunction of the thyroid gland, a doctor is consulted.

Symptoms of euthyroidism

The clinical picture is characterized by an asymptomatic course of pathology in the initial stages. The first sign is a change in the shape and size of the endocrine organ. The patient does not complain about the deterioration of health, but an increase in the gland is visualized.

Symptoms depend on the degree of damage to the thyroid gland. There are three stages:

To make a correct diagnosis, ultrasound, immunological, hormonal and cytological studies are prescribed, and information is also collected in the anamnesis.

The course of the disease manifests itself in the form of the following symptoms:

The manifestation of such symptoms is a reason to be examined by an endocrinologist.

Types of treatment

The diagnosis of "euthyroidism" is not yet a disease, but a signal of the inability of the gland to protect itself from the influence of negative external factors. Therefore, it is effectively amenable to therapy. Pathology can be treated with both medication and folk remedies.

The goal of therapy is to reduce nodular formations, eliminate symptoms and normalize the patient's condition.

Therefore, the treatment of euthyroidism of the thyroid gland is prescribed individually, based on the symptoms and factors that provoked the violation.