National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Hashimoto's syndrome

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Not a rare disease Not a rare disease
Other Names:
Autoimmune thyroiditis; Hashimoto's disease; Thyroiditis, chronic; Autoimmune thyroiditis; Hashimoto's disease; Thyroiditis, chronic; Hashimoto's struma; Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis; Hashimoto's thyroiditis See More
Categories:
Hashimoto’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which a person's immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, reducing its ability to produce hormones (hypothyroidism). Many people with Hashimoto’s syndrome have no symptoms at first.[1][2] An early sign of the syndrome may be enlargement of the thyroid (called a goiter), which can potentially interfere with breathing or swallowing. Other signs and symptoms may include tiredness, weight gain, thin and dry hair, joint or muscle pain, constipation, cold intolerance, and/or a slowed heart rate. Women with Hashimoto's syndrome may have irregular menstrual periods or difficulty becoming pregnant. Hashimoto’s syndrome is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. It is more common in women than in men, and it usually appears in mid-adulthood. Like most autoimmune diseases, Hashimoto's syndrome is thought to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Treatment is not always needed, but may include taking synthetic thyroid hormone.[1][2][3]
Last updated: 10/17/2017

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
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HPO ID
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Autoimmune antibody positivity 0030057
Autosomal dominant inheritance 0000006
Hashimoto thyroiditis 0000872
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Last updated: 7/1/2020
Hashimoto's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder thought to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some of these factors have been identified, but many remain unknown. People with Hashimoto’s syndrome have antibodies to various thyroid antigens. The antibodies mistakenly "attack" the thyroid, resulting in damage to the gland.[1][2]

Several genes appear to be possible risk factors for Hashimoto syndrome, such as the gene family called the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex, which helps the immune system distinguish the body's own proteins from proteins made by viruses and bacteria or other agents. It is also more common in people who have other family members with the disease. However, the genetic factors have only a small effect on a person's overall risk of developing this syndrome. Non-genetic factors that may trigger the syndrome in people at risk may include changes in sex hormones (particularly in women), viral infections, high cholesterol, vitamin D deficiency, certain medications, exposure to ionizing radiation, and excess consumption of iodine (a substance involved in thyroid hormone production).[2][3]

Hashimoto’s syndrome is much more frequent in women than men, especially between the ages of 40 and 60 years old.[1]

Hashimoto’s syndrome  is associated with other autoimmune diseases, including connective tissue diseases, joint diseases (such as autoimmune types of arthritis), pernicious anemia, adrenal insufficiency, celiac disease, and type 1 diabetes mellitus.  Also, people with autoimmune diseases seem to have a higher risk of developing Hashimoto's syndrome.[2]
Last updated: 10/17/2017
The way Hashimoto's syndrome may be passed down in a family (inheritance pattern) is unclear, because many genetic and environmental factors appear to be involved. However, the syndrome can cluster in families, and having a close relative with Hashimoto's syndrome or another autoimmune disorder likely increases a person's risk of developing the syndrome.[1][2][3]
Last updated: 10/17/2017

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • The Centers for Mendelian Genomics program is working to discover the causes of rare genetic disorders. For more information about applying to the research study, please visit their website.
  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Hashimoto's syndrome. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Organizations Providing General Support

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Merck Manual for health care professionals provides information on Hashimoto's syndrome.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Hashimoto's syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • Can this condition affect a baby during pregnancy? What diets or alternative measures can you take? Essential oils? See answer


  1. Hashimoto's Disease. National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service. 2017; http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/endocrine/hashimotos-disease/Pages/fact-sheet.aspx.
  2. Lee SL. Hashimoto Thyroiditis. Medscape Reference. 2017; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/120937-overview.
  3. Hashimoto thyroiditis. Genetics Home Reference. July, 2013; http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/hashimoto-thyroiditis.