%0 Journal Article
%T Coincidence of remission of postpartum Graves' disease and use of omega-3 fatty acid supplements
%A Sarah J Breese McCoy
%J Thyroid Research
%D 2011
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1756-6614-4-16
%X I am a white female. In 2002 at age 38, I gave birth to my fifth child. About four months later, I developed heat intolerance, tremor, palpitations, increased frequency of bowel movements, and elevated heart rate. Plasma TSH was undetectable, and plasma T4 was elevated at 2.41 ng/dL (reference range 0.65-1.50 ng/dL). In addition, plasma thyrotropin binding inhibitory immunoglobulin level was elevated at 21.4% (reference range < 10%). Information on the lab results printout stated, "This test measures the percent inhibition of 125I-TSH binding to the thyroid TSH receptor. Graves Disease patients show an inhibition of 10-100%." My endocrinologist prescribed 10 mg methimazole twice per day, but a rash developed, so I was switched to propylthioruacil (PTU), 150 mg twice per day. (Thyroid ablation with radioactive iodine was not an option during breastfeeding.) After about eight weeks when plasma T4 levels came within normal range (1.1 ng/dL, reference range 0.7-1.9 ng/dL), I began to tapering off the PTU without the physician's consent, but T4 levels began rising, and TSH remained undetectable. I resumed taking PTU at 50-100 mg/day. At this dosage, TSH was still undetectable, but T4 remained within normal range, and I felt well. The endocrinologist would have preferred that I take enough PTU to bring TSH up to the normal range, but he continued to monitor me.A thyroid uptake and scan were performed at about six months after beginning PTU therapy. The 24-hour uptake was elevated at 54.5 percent, and there was homogeneous distribution of the iodine radioisotope within a mildly enlarged gland, consistent with Graves' disease.Approximately one year into the PTU treatment, I became aware that omega-3 fatty acids are thought to reduce the inflammation associated with certain autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis [1]. They have also been investigated with some success for such conditions as Crohn's disease, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis [2
%K Graves Disease
%K omega-3 fatty acids
%K postpartum thyroiditis
%K hyperthyroidism
%U http://www.thyroidresearchjournal.com/content/4/1/16