ABSTRACT
Background: The major organ-specific autoimmune conditions comprise autoimmune thyroid diseases which include Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease. These disorders cause hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism through immune-mediated injury of the thyroid gland tissue. Healthcare providers need complete knowledge about autoimmune thyroid disease pathophysiology as well as skilled diagnostic methods and proven treatments to provide proper clinical care.
Aim: The research focused on evaluating pathophysiological processes together with diagnostic features and therapeutic interventions of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis as well as Graves’ disease with the goal of improving clinical recognition and treatment results.
Methods: The research took place between February 2024 to January 2025 at Ayub Medical Hospital in Abbottabad. The research included 100 patients who received a diagnosis between Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease. A combination of clinical evaluation with thyroid function tests and thyroid autoantibody measurements and thyroid ultrasound and radioactive iodine uptake scans constituted the data collection methods.
Results: Among the 100 tested patients 58% received Hashimoto’s thyroiditis diagnosis alongside 42% who had Graves’ disease. The research participants consisted of 80% women whose average age amounted to 37.5 ± 9.4 years. The main symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis included fatigue alongside weight gain and cold sensitivity whereas Graves’ disease patients predominantly showed weight loss with palpitations and heat intolerance. The TSH levels increased with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis while doctors detected elevated T3, T4 and TSH receptor antibodies alongside the suppression of TSH during Graves’ disease. Levothyroxine replacement therapy resulted in successful Hashimoto’s treatment while antithyroid drugs together with radioactive iodine therapy proved effective for managing Graves’ disease.
Conclusion: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis possessed unique clinical manifestations together with specific biochemical indicators which differed from those of Graves’ disease. Patients exhibited better results when treatment started early and diagnosis happened quickly while the condition received proper targeted medical care. The correct management of Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases depends on both recognizing gender and age risk factors alongside appropriate diagnostic procedures.
Keywords: Autoimmune thyroid disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid autoantibodies, Ayub Medical Hospital.