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Pentoxifylline Explores New Horizons in Treatment of Hashimoto Thyroiditis

Arsalan Azimi

Hashimoto Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease and the most common cause of hypothyroidism in developed countries. As the disease initiates unusual thyroidal antigens are exposed to the immune system. The immune system sensitizes to those antigens and creates a cell mediated autoimmune response against thyroid gland. Inflammatory cells infiltrate within thyroid follicles and destruct the follicles by inflicting oxidative stress and inducing apoptosis. The inflammatory process also reduces sensitivity of thyrocytes to Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). As the disease progresses and the follicles degrade, fibrotic tissue replaces the follicles until the whole gland becomes fibrotic. Pentoxiflline could inhibit autoimmune destruction of thyrocytes, suppress cell mediated immune response against thyroid, decrease oxidative damage to thyrocytes, increase sensitivity of thyrocytes to TSH and hinder fibrotic degeneration of thyroid. Thereby PTX could cure HT and alleviate symptoms of hypothyroidism.