~6,500 in the UK (11)
More common in Graves' Disease sufferers than general population
~6,400 in the UK (14)
Hashimoto's thyroiditis combined with Addison's Disease known as Schmidt's Syndrome
~1% population (~640,000) (6)
(commonly accompanies other autoimmune diseases)
~300,000 in the UK (7)
1/3 of Type 1 diabetes (diabetes mellitus) sufferers have thyroid auto-antibodies
1/10,000 in the UK (8)
10% of Hashimoto's thyroiditis sufferers
Auto-antibodies destroy gastric parietal cells and block intrinsic factor leading to B12, iron & folate deficiency & low ferritin stores
How Common is it?
What happens?
Medical Treatment
B12 replacement (tablets or injections)
Iron (tablets or infusion)
Folate supplements
Insulin injections
Auto-antibodies destroy islet cells in the pancreas that produce insulin causing insulin deficiency
Auto-antibodies destroy melanocyte skin cells that produce melanin leading to light patches appearing on your skin
Auto-antibodies attack the 21-hydroxylase enzyme leading to destruction of adrenal
cortex causing cortisol & aldesterone deficiency
Auto-antibodies attack neuro-muscular
receptors interfering with transmission of messages between nerves & muscles leading to muscle weakness & breathing problems
Corticosteroid tablets
Note: Addison's should be treated before thyroxine is prescribed to minimise additional stress on the adrenal system****
Cortisosteroid cream
Avoid sunlight
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Surgery (thymus)
Steroids
Immunosuppressants
If you have an autoimmune thyroid disorder there's a chance you could develop or already have another related autoimmune disease.
It's difficult to predict how likely this is but there is a recognised link between certain autoimmune disorders known within the medical community as the 'thyrogastric cluster'(1) or Type 2 autoimmune polyglandular syndrome where several glands in the body are attacked by the body's own immune system (2). In order to deveop any autoimmune disease you need a genetic predisposition to that disease that gets triggered.
Thyroid-Related Autoimmune Diseases & Digestion
Click to discover more...
References
(1) 'The Autoimmune Diseases' p529-535, by Dr Noel Rose & Ian R Mackay.
(2) http://.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoimmune_polyendocrine_syndrome_type_2
(3) Recent Developments in Thryoid Eye Disease, BMJ 2004;329:385
(4) Vanderpump MP, Tunbridge WM, French JM, et al; The incidence of thyroid disorders in the community: a twenty-year follow-up of the Whickham
Survey. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1995 Jul;43(1):55-68
(5) www.nhs.uk/conditions/arthritis/pages/introduction.aspx
(6) www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitiligo/pages/introduction.aspx
(7) www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/What-we-say/Statistics/Diabetes-in-the-UK-2012/
(8) www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anaemia-vitamin-B12-and-folate-deficiency/Pages/Introduction.aspx
(9) www.cks.nhs.uk/coeliac_disease/background_information/prevalence
(10) www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp?action=article&o=46234
(11) www.mga-charity.org/information-mg/myasthenia-gravis/77-home/84
(12) Nightingale AL, Farmer RD, de Vries CS. Systemic lupus erythematosus prevalence in the UK: methodological issues when using General Practice
Research Database to estimate frequency of chronic relapsing-remitting disease. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2007; 16(2):144–51
(13) www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Raynauds_Phenomenon/
(14) www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=765067291
(15) www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Sjogrens-syndrome/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
0.8-1.9% UK population (9)
There's also an established link between some digestive disorders such as intestinal permeability ('leaky gut') and autoimmune disease in susceptible people. If you already have an autoimmune disease it's worth checking your digestive status and taking steps to correct imbalances
Several causes including immune system malfunction resulting in tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antibodies causing
gut inflammation
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Immunosuppressants
Biologics
Surgery to remove
damaged intestine
60,000 people in the UK (10)
1.85% UK population (~1.2M)
10 times more common in women(3)
Auto-antibodies bind TSH receptors
on thyroid gland causing over-production of thyroid hormones
Thionamides
Beta-blockers
Radioiodine therapy
Occasional surgery
Levothyroxine tablets (T4)
Thyroid hormone
(T4 and/or T3) replacement
Auto-antibodies lead to cell-mediated and antibody-mediated destruction of thyroid cells and the thyroid gland
1.85% UK population (~1.2M)
15-20 times more common in women (4)
Pilocarpine
Hydroxychloroquine
Lubricants to relieve symptoms
e.g. eye drops
Auto-antibodies attack glands that secrete fluid, such as the tear & saliva glands
3-4% UK population (15)
Paracetamol, codeine
Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory
Drugs (NSAIDS)
Corticosteroids
Disease Modiying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDS)
Biologics
Auto-antibodies attack synovial membranes in joints causing chemicals to be released that damage your bones
>0.7M people in the UK
3 times more common in women (5)
Gluten free diet
Anti-gliandin bodies attack gluten in wheat, barley, rye & other grains damaging the small intestine leading to weight loss from nutrient malabsorption, bloating & diahorrea
NSAIDS
Immunosuppresants
Hydroxychloroquine
Corticosteroids
Rituximab (biologic)
Auto-antibodies attack healthy cells causing rashes, fatigue & joint pain
~26,000 in the UK (12)
Raynaud's Phenomenon (13)
is common in lupus sufferers
