ABSTRACT
Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland, of which there are numerous causes, both non-infectious and infectious. Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is one of the most common of all autoimmune disorders. In this condition, there is an enhanced presentation of thyroid antigens and a reduction in immune tolerance with an increase in Th-1 lymphocyte activity and destruction of thyroid follicles. Silent or “painless” thyroiditis is a painless inflammation of the thyroid that produces a transient hyperthyroid state. The incidence of painless thyroiditis was reported with increasing frequency in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. Silent thyroiditis has also been reported in South America, India, and Japan. Patients with silent thyroiditis present with symptoms and signs of thyrotoxicosis. The most common symptoms include palpitations, weight loss, nervousness, heat intolerance, and fatigue.
