Thyroiditis: current views of pathogenesis.
From indirect and circumstantial evidence it would appear that subacute thyroiditis is probably a viral infection of the thyroid gland. The thyroid may respond in the stereotyped manner to any one of a number of viruses. Despite the available evidence, however, the viral theory has yet to be finally proven. Autoimmunity does not appear to be a primary factor in the initiation of subacute thyroiditis, although transient immunologic responses occur as a secondary phenomenon. Autoimmune thyroiditis, on the other hand, is almost certainly a primary immunologic disease, and likely is due to a specific inherited defect in immunologic control. It would appear that both cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity (i.e., T and B lymphocytes) are necessary for the full expression of this disorder.
D001327:Autoimmune Diseases; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
D007136:Immunoglobulins