[Diagnostic procedure in suspected functional disorders of the thyroid gland]

In an attempt to derive diagnostic concepts for thyroid diseases we present pathophysiological models for the prevalent thyroid disorders. 'Euthyroid goiter' is a disease mainly caused by iodine deficiency but an additional immunopathogenesis was recently proposed. The 'immunthyropathy' is the thyroid disease with orbitopathy and other extraglandular immunological manifestations. A complete model of the immunological phenomena which begin with a tolerance defect is given, and both the T-cell, and B-cell-mediated pathways are detailed. The complex interaction of immunoglobulins at the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor and their dependency on human leukocyte antigen loci are presented. The peripheral metabolism depends ultimately upon a prevalence of thyroid gland stimulation (thyrotoxicosis) or glandular destruction (hypothyroidism) and this is true for overt thyroid disease under antithyroid drug therapy or any other therapy. Euthyroidism during 'immunethyropathy' is presented as an equilibrium between thyroid stimulation and destruction. This concept allows an exact description of the thyroid disease and the resulting clinical situation provided that established laboratory tests are used as suggested by the model. 'Disseminated thyroid autonomy and autononous thyroid adenoma' develops during goitrous thyroid disease as a consequence of uncoupling of thyroid cellular growth stimulation, iodine utilization, and thyroid hormone synthesis. The polyclonal origin seems more frequent than monoclonal foci. The size of autononous tissue and individual iodine supply determines the endocrine function in this disease. The TRH test monitors with great sensitivity subtle increases in T4 or T3 production and indicates critical clinical situations earlier than the scintiscan.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)