A CLINICAL STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS AND SYMPTOMATOLOGY OF COMMONLY INDICATED HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES IN THE TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE HYPOTHYROIDISM

Hypothyroidism may be defined as a deficient thyroidal production of thyroidal hormones. It could either be due to problems in the thyroid gland itself (primary hypothyroidism) or may be caused by an insufficient stimulation of the thyroid gland due to factors interfering with pituitary TSH release (secondary hypothyroidism) or indirectly by diminishing hypothalamic TRH release (tertiary hypothyroidism). Secondary and tertiary hypothyroidism are together known as central hypothyroidism and are rare. Whereas Primary hypothyroidism is very prevalent worldwide

The prevalence of hypothyroidism in India was found to be 11% with higher rates in women as compared to men

Overt primary hypothyroidism is diagnosed biochemically with a serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration above the reference range and low free T4 If the TSH is raised but free T4 is in the normal range, then this is referred to as subclinical hypothyroidism

The commonest cause of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroiditis accounting for 90 % of all cases. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (70%) and Graves’ disease (20%) are the most common types of autoimmune thyroid diseases

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis diagnosis depends on the level of circulating antibodies mainly Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase antibody which contributes for about 90% sensitivity to diagnose autoimmune thyroiditis