Untangling thyroid autoimmunity through modeling and simulation.

Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition)
Stephen J Merrill, Balamurugan Pandiyan

Abstract

Thyroid autoimmunity is characterized by a large number of identified factors, and determining the relative importance of genetics and environment, for instance, can be difficult. In addition, the definition and progression of the individual diseases can also be challenging, and questions such as "when to begin treatment" or even "should treatment be begun" can be problematic. One approach to handling situations in which there are many factors is utilizing mathematical modeling. In a model, quantities that are clinically measurable are related through equations, based on known and inferred relationships between the systems involved. In situations where these relationships are complicated, the resulting simulations can provide information not previous recognized as logically resulting from those relationships. One advantage of this approach is that patient-specific parameter estimates can be used to personalize disease monitoring and treatment. In this paper, models involving Hashimoto's (autoimmune) thyroiditis, Graves' disease, and the roles of leptin, vitamin D3, and adipose tissue are described. In the case of Hashimoto's, a model consisting of a system of differential equations is presented which allows a patient specific d...Continue Reading

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