Kermaj Marjeta, Lekbello Megi, Blushi Megi, Ylli Dorina, Ylli Agron
Endocrinology Department, University Hospital Center "Mother Tereza", Tirana, ALB.
Endocrinology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Tirana, Tirana, ALB.
Cureus. 2025 Aug 20;17(8):e90609. doi: 10.7759/cureus.90609. eCollection 2025 Aug.
We present the case of a 19-year-old female who initially exhibited unilateral orbital symptoms and laboratory evidence of autoimmune thyroid involvement, consistent with a diagnosis of euthyroid Graves' orbitopathy (GO). She responded well to immunosuppressive therapy and remained clinically stable for two years. Subsequently, she developed fatigue, menstrual irregularities, and mild recurrent eye discomfort. Laboratory evaluation revealed biochemically severe hypothyroidism with elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), low free thyroxine (FT4), and persistently high thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO). Additional findings included iron deficiency anemia and vitamin D deficiency. Thyroid ultrasound confirmed features of autoimmune thyroiditis, and she was started on hormonal and micronutrient replacement therapy. This case highlights a rare clinical evolution from euthyroid GO to Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and emphasizes the need for long-term follow-up in autoimmune thyroid conditions. It also suggests that micronutrient status may influence immune shifts and disease progression, underscoring the importance of addressing modifiable factors as part of comprehensive endocrine care.
我们报告了一例19岁女性病例,该患者最初表现为单侧眼眶症状及自身免疫性甲状腺受累的实验室证据,符合亚临床格雷夫斯眼病(GO)的诊断。她对免疫抑制治疗反应良好,临床稳定两年。随后,她出现疲劳、月经不规律及轻度复发性眼部不适。实验室检查显示生化指标为严重甲状腺功能减退,促甲状腺激素(TSH)升高、游离甲状腺素(FT4)降低且甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体(抗-TPO)持续高值。其他检查结果包括缺铁性贫血和维生素D缺乏。甲状腺超声证实了自身免疫性甲状腺炎的特征,她开始接受激素及微量营养素替代治疗。该病例突出了从亚临床GO到桥本甲状腺炎(HT)这种罕见的临床演变过程,并强调了自身免疫性甲状腺疾病长期随访的必要性。这也表明微量营养素状态可能影响免疫转变和疾病进展,突显了在综合内分泌治疗中关注可改变因素的重要性。