Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: from pathogenesis to clinical management

TL;DR

This paper reviews the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a common autoimmune thyroid disease, to guide better clinical and research approaches.

Contribution

The paper provides a narrative review summarizing the current understanding of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis pathogenesis and treatment challenges.

Findings

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is more prevalent in women and is linked to genetic, environmental, and immune factors.

Diagnosis relies on autoantibody tests and thyroid ultrasound, while treatment typically involves levothyroxine.

The paper highlights the need for improved clinical strategies and further research into HT management.

Abstract

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a chronic autoimmune thyroiditis characterized by thyroid-specific autoantibodies (TPOAb, TGAb) positivity and lymphocytic infiltration, and is a major cause of hypothyroidism in iodine-sufficient regions. Epidemiological data show a significant increase in the prevalence of HT, which is about four times more common in adult women than in men. The pathogenesis of HT involves a complex interaction of genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, and immune regulation. Its clinical diagnosis is mainly based on serological tests (TPOAb/TGAb) and thyroid ultrasound features. The current treatment of Hashimoto’s is based on levothyroxine (T4) replacement. This article presents a narrative review of the pathogenesis, status, and challenges of treatment of HT to provide a theoretical basis for optimizing clinical practice and basic research.