Smoking and thyroid diseases--what is new?

Cigarette smoking has multiple effects on the thyroid gland, which is associated with important clinical implications such as increased risk and severity of autoimmune thyroid disorders, especially Graves' ophthalmopathy. The influence of cigarette smoking is mainly associated with the pharmacological action of nicotine and also with toxins such as thiocyanate. The present review of relevant literature concentrates on the effect of smoking on the Graves' ophthalmopathy and other autoimmune thyroid disorders (such as Hashimoto's disease). The effect of passive smoking on children and the influence of smoking on the fetus is also shown. In contrast, the protective influence of cigarette smoke on thyroid cancer is also widely observed.