Autoimmune thyroiditis is a form of thyroiditis

Thyroiditis

Thyroiditis is the inflammation of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located on the front of the neck below the laryngeal prominence, and makes hormones that control metabolism.-Classification:...

 associated with an autoimmune disease

Autoimmune disease

Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. In other words, the body actually attacks its own cells. The immune system mistakes some part of the body as a pathogen and attacks it. This may be restricted to...

 where the body treats the thyroid gland and sometimes the hormones it produces as foreign bodies, therefore rejecting and attacking both.

Treatment

Thyroid hormone supplementation may help with symptoms and prevent further conditions like goitre and thyroid gland failure from happening.

Consequences

Goiter may result from Autoimmune Thyroiditis as a result of an increase in thyroid gland size. As well, the thyroid's ability to produce hormones for the body becomes impaired. Hypothyroidism can develop from the condition.

Types

It can refer to:

• Hashimoto's thyroiditis
  Hashimoto's thyroiditis
  Hashimoto's thyroiditis or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid gland is gradually destroyed by a variety of cell- and antibody-mediated immune processes. It was the first disease to be recognized as an autoimmune disease...
  
  
• Postpartum thyroiditis
  Postpartum thyroiditis
  Postpartum thyroiditis is a phenomenon observed following pregnancy and may involve hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism or the two sequentially. It affects about 5% of all women within a year after giving birth. The first phase is typically hyperthyroidism. Then, the thyroid either returns to normal...