Autoimmune Thyroiditis: A New Comorbidity of the Most Prevalent Endocrine Disease, Its Prevention and Prediction

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis as most prevalent autoimmune endocrine disorder of nowadays is detailed, with data on its natural history, etiology, pathogenesis and comorbidity. A review of authors’ original papers is given, establishing the clinical pathophysiological hypothesis, initially coined in 2002, about regular transition of adolescent hypothalamic syndrome (obesity with rose striae) with age into early metabolic syndrome, complicated by autoimmune thyroiditis. Some evidences are obtained, that witness for marfanoid phenotype and chronic disequilibrium between local, autacoid-mediated and systemic, hormone-mediated regulation, typical for inherited connective tissue disorders, may promote this transition. Pathogenetic role of hyperprolactinemia and cytokine misbalance in transition of physiologic anti-thyroid autoimmunity into autoallergic disease is evaluated. Prevention, early recognition and prediction of autoimmune thyroiditis course, as well as preventive treatment of its complications are reviewed.

Keywords: Aging, adolescents, adiponectin, autoimmune thyroiditis, cytokines, Dupuytren’s contracture, Hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, iodine, leptin, marfanoid phenotype, Marfan syndrome, metabolic syndrome, obesity, prevention, prolactin, rose striae, Simpson-Page syndrome, transforming growth factor.