Sample case study of hyperthyroidism

The patient’s signs consisted of a slight enlargement of the neck area, coarse textured hair and dry skin. When her blood sample was analysed it showed that the hormone T4 (thyroxin) levels were 3.2 micrograms/millilitre which is lower than the normal range, 4.2-11.2 micrograms/millilitre.

In some cases the condition could arise from the use of drugs such as amiodarone, lithium interferon alpha, and interkulin-2. These drugs stop the thyroid gland from producing the thyroid hormone at a normal and are likely to trigger hypothyroidism especially in patients with a genetic tendency to auto immune thyroid disease.

The TSH test is normally chosen for the evaluation of the thyroid function and for the symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. It is often done with or after a T4 test. The results of the tests performed show an elevated TSH level and a low T4 level which show that the patient has hypothyroidism.

Hamburger's (15) retrospective study showed that within 6 months of receiving a single dose of 200 mCi 131I/g thyroid tissue, 88% of the children were euthyroid or hypothyroid. Rivkees et al. (16) recommend that a single dose of 150-200 mCi 131I/g thyroid tissue will cure 85-90% of pediatric hyperthyroidism.