Thyroid Disorders USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 32-year-old woman presents 3 months postpartum with fatigue, depression, and palpitations. Vital signs show HR 92 bpm, BP 128/82 mmHg, RR 16, temperature 37.2°C. TSH is elevated at 6.5 mIU/L, free T4 is low at 7.2 pg/dL, and TPO antibodies are positive. She denies recent weight gain or cold intolerance. She has no history of thyroid disease before pregnancy and takes no medications. Which of the following best explains her presentation?
Answer choices
- AGraves disease triggered by pregnancy
- BIodine deficiency from lactation
- CAcute bacterial thyroiditis
- DPostpartum thyroiditis with permanent hypothyroidismCorrect answer
- EExacerbation of preexisting Hashimoto thyroiditis
- FTransient thyroid dysfunction from subacute viral thyroiditis
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