Tuesday, June 3, 2014

2 types of Amiodarone Induced Thyrotoxicosis (AIT)

Q: What are the 2 types of Amiodarone Induced Thyrotoxicosis (AIT)?

Answer:

Type 1 - Which usually affects patients with latent or previously known thyroid disorders and is more common in areas of low iodine intake. It is caused by iodine-induced excess thyroid hormone synthesis and release.

Type 2 - occurs in patients with a previously normal thyroid gland and is caused by a destructive thyroiditis that leads to the release of preformed thyroid hormones from the damaged thyroid follicular cells.

Clinical Significance: Type 2 thyrotoxicosis may respond to course of glucocorticoids, which has membrane-stabilizing and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as glucocorticoids reduce conversion of T4 to T3. Dose is prednisone to start with 30-40 mg/d and taper over a couple of months until free T4 levels are within the reference range. Patient symptoms may biochemically and clinically improve within 1 week following the start of therapy.

To note: some patients may have mixed forms of AIT.

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