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Thyroid dysfunction
Colin M. Dayan • Onyebuchi E. Okosieme • Peter Taylor
CHAPTER OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION affect the thyroid gland are the most common causes
of thyroid dysfunction. Pituitary disease and the use of
Thyroid hormones are essential for normal growth, certain drugs that alter thyroid hormone synthesis or me-
development and metabolism, and their production is tabolism can also give rise to thyroid dysfunction. Any
tightly regulated through the hypothalamic–pituitary– severe illness can produce abnormalities in the r esults of
thyroid axis. Thyroid disease is common, particularly in thyroid function tests that resolve as the patient’s illness
women, with a prevalence in the community of 3–5%. improves. Once diagnosed, thyroid disease is usually eas-
With the exception of iodine deficiency, which affects ily treated, with an excellent long-term outcome for most
millions of people worldwide, diseases that directly patients. This chapter outlines thyroid physiology and the
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