Reference no: EM133867535

Assignment:

A 44-year-old woman presents to the office because of fatigue. She has felt sluggish for months and thinks she may be anemic. She has started taking iron pills but isn't feeling any better. She has been sleeping well and doesn't feel depressed. She has noticed some thinning of her hair and feels as if her skin is dry. She takes a multivitamin and iron supplement, otherwise no medications. She has smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for approximately 20 years, occasionally drinks alcohol, and doesn't exercise. Her mother takes some kind of thyroid pill and has diabetes. On examination, her blood pressure and pulse are normal. Her hair is thinned but there are no focal patches of alopecia or scarring of the scalp. Her skin is diffusely dry. Her thyroid gland feels diffusely enlarged, is nontender, and has no nodules. The remainder of her examination is unremarkable. Lab tests show a normal complete blood count (CBC), glucose, and electrolytes. Her thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level is elevated, and T4 level is reduced. You diagnose her with hypothyroidism and start her on oral levothyroxine sodium.

1. Explain the pathophysiology of hypothyroidism
2. What is levothyroxine sodium?
3. How is triiodothyronine (T3) produced in the body?
4. What is the goal of levothyroxine replacement therapy?
5. What are the adverse effects of levothyroxine therapy?