Can you have Hashimoto’s disease without a thyroid?

Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid gland, and it is typically characterized by inflammation and damage to the gland. In some cases, inflammation and damage can lead to the destruction of the thyroid gland, resulting in the absence of a functioning thyroid gland. When this happens, it is called "atrophic thyroiditis" and it is considered a form of hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) caused by Hashimoto's disease. In this case, the person would not have a functioning thyroid gland, and would require lifelong hormone replacement therapy to maintain normal levels of thyroid hormones in the body. It is important to note that the diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease is often made based on the presence of antibodies (TPO, TgAb) and other clinical signs and symptoms, rather than the presence or absence of a functional thyroid gland.

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