The Spread of Thyroid Diseases and the Algorithm for Diagnosing Thyroid Dysfunction

Abstract

Diseases of the thyroid gland are considered one of the most common endocrinopathies. This is due to the influence of ecologically unfavorable environmental factors, bad habits, malnutrition, comorbid conditions and genetic predisposition. Determining an algorithm for diagnosing thyroid dysfunction for the timely detection of diseases is expedient and relevant.

The objective: to analyze the state of the spread of thyroid diseases among the population of the Kiev region and to determine the diagnostic algorithm based on the identification of the main clinical syndromes of thyroid dysfunction.

Materials and methods. Among the adult population of the Kiev region, a high level of morbidity and spread of thyroid diseases is recorded. The increase in the number of cases occurred, first of all, due to the newly diagnosed patients with hypothyroidism, thyroiditis. The manifestation of most diseases is associated with the development of thyroid dysfunction. Under the hypothyroidism one can observe and diagnose the following: a syndrome of neuropsychiatric disorders with slowing down of motor activity, decrease in cognitive functions; syndrome of vegetative-trophic disorders with cutaneous mucinosis, polyneuropathy; syndrome of cardiovascular changes with decreased myocardial contractility, slow blood flow, progressive development of atherosclerosis; anemic syndrome; digestive tract syndrome with impaired motor and secretory functions of the gastrointestinal tract; syndrome of hormonal disorders with decreased secretion of thyroid hormones, especially T4, increased levels of TSH (in primary hypothyroidism) or decreased TSH (in secondary and tertiary).

Results. Thyrotoxicosis in patients is determined by an enlarged thyroid gland with the development of: thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy and systolic arterial hypertension; thyrotoxic encephalopathy, syndrome of neuropsychiatric disorders with a predominance of excitation processes, vascular dysfunction; thyrotoxic ophthalmopathy, ectodermal disorders syndrome along with a decrease in TSH production and an increase in the level of free fractions T4, T3.

Conclusions. The algorithm for diagnosing hypofunction and hyperfunction of the thyroid gland provides for: clarification of complaints and anamnesis data, examination of the patient, additional laboratory and instrumental examination, which includes the study of the thyroid status, possible autoaggression, analysis of metabolic processes, assessment of pathomorphological changes in the thyroid gland.