Question

QUESTION 4 A 48 yr old female presents to her doctor with progressive weight gain of 20 lbs over one year and developing fatigue, deep voice, dry skin, cold intolerance around the same time frame Her lab results show: CBC and Differential WBC: Normal total Serum T4: 2.5 ug/dL (4.5-12.5) TSH: 5.2 (0.2-3.5 mcU/mL) Serum cholesterol: 238 (<200) a. What is the likely diagnosis? b. Is the defect at the primary, secondary or tertiary level? How do the test results help you answer the question C. Explain one autoimmune cause that could result in this disorder d. How is this disorder treated and effectiveness of treatment monitored?

Answer 1

a The diagnosis is Hypothyroidism

b the defect is primary level . In primary level TSH is level is very high . Here TSH is 5.2 mcl/ml . where T4 level is low . This test help me to answer.

C Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a autoimmune disease . Autoimmune disease produces antibodies which affects own body tissues. It affects thyroid glands also ,and cause this disease .

d This disorder is treated by taking synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxin .. this medicine are designed to return proper thyroid level at blood .

Treatment should be based on age ,health, Thyroid hormone level,weight, heart disease in older people . 1stly the therapeutic dose is minimum ,the doctor then gradually increase the dose . After 6 weeks of starting of treatment the doctor will again ask for blood test . Depending on the blood test results the doctor will change the dose . In this way the effectiveness of treatment is monitored