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Thyroid Disorders

Thyroid Disorders

If a child has diet low in iodine, would it be okay to give them something like 400 micrograms of iodine in kelp capsules to help support their iodine levels? Would their levels need to be tested beforehand? If someone has known Hashimoto’s, would you do iodine testing on them? In the week 37 material we specifically talk about doing testing on people with hypothyroidism without Hashimoto’s, so I wondered if it should be done on someone with Hashimoto’s?

Dr. Amy Nett: Okay, so let me answer these one at a time. So if a child has a diet...

On week 37, part 5, Chris talks about patients who have low TSH and low T3 and T4 that this can be caused by Hashimoto’s or pituitary gland or hypothalamic dysfunction. Can this occur with HPA axis dysfunction as well?

Dr. Amy Nett: So HPA axis dysfunction can certainly cause low thyroid function potentially, also low T3 and T4, it...

I seem to see this presentation quite often in my practice. How do I know if it’s due to Hashimoto’s or pituitary gland dysfunction? Based on TPO or thyroglobulin antibodies, I know with Hashimoto’s you don’t always have to see them. Do you have to do a TSH stimulation test?

Dr. Amy Nett: Yes. I don’t know if you have to do the TSH stimulation test because is that actually...

Would you do thyroid testing on children if their parents have hypothyroidism because of the genetic link? What age would you start testing them? And would it be based on if they have symptoms?

Dr. Amy Nett: Because yes, we’ve said that Hashimoto’s is approximately 70 percent based on genetics, so a very strong...

How do you determine if the patient has transient Hashimoto’s thyrotoxicosis or Graves’ disease if they present with a low TSH and elevated TPO or thyroglobulin antibodies? Is it based on if they have TSI production?

Dr. Amy Nett: Yeah, I would probably test the … you want to look at TSI as well. But then...