Doctors

Ord's Thyroiditis is a disease similar to Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, although it is associated with a reduced thyroid size. This form of autoimmune thyroiditis is more common in European countries. It is named after the physician W. M. Ord, who first described it in 1877 and again in 1888 . It is more common among women than men.

In many cases, Ord's thyroiditis results in hypothyroidism, although in its acute phase it can cause a transient hyperthyroid state. Physiologically, antibodies to thyroid peroxidase and/or thyroglobulin cause gradual destruction of follicles in the thyroid gland. Accordingly, the disease can be detected clinically by looking for these antibodies in the blood. It is also characterised by invasion of the thyroid tissue by leukocytes, chiefly T-lymphocytes.

Treatment is by daily thyroxine, with the sodium salt of thyroxine liothyronine given when the need to raise levels of circulating thyroxine is urgent.

Symptoms of Ord's thyroiditis include symptoms of hypothyroidism and atrophy of the thyroid gland.

Outside Europe a goitrous form of autoimmune thyroditis (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis) is more common than Ord's disease.