title: Post-partum transient thyrotoxicosis with painless thyroiditis.
abstract: 5 patients presented with transient thyrotoxicosis and painless thyroiditis in the post-partum period. Thyrotoxicosis developed within 1-6 months of delivery. All had small non-tender goitres. Initially, all patients had elevated values for thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) uptake, and triiodothyronine by radioimmunoassay (T3[R.I.A.]). Radioactive-iodine uptake (R.A.I.U.) was suppressed in all. In all patients, thyrotoxicosis resolved within 4 months; subsequent transient hypothyroidism occurred in 4, 1 developing permanent myxoedema. 2 had persistently elevated thyroid-antibody titres and needle-biopsy findings compatible with chronic thyroiditis. 1 became permanently hypothyroid. The other 3 patients had serial clinical and laboratory findings suggestive of painless subacute thyroiditis. Serial thyrotrophin-releasing-hormone (T.R.H.) stimulation tests are also reported. The importance of the low R.A.I.U. in recognising painless thyroiditis is emphasised. Since the disorder is self-limited, conservative therapy should be given.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000150:complications; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine