Abstract
The term subclinical hypothyroidism has been used to describe the syndrome of high serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone associated with normal levels of thyroid hormone. Diagnosis requires a sensitive method of measuring TSH. Because the syndrome does not invariably lead to overt hypothyroidism, it would not be appropriate to institute lifelong levothyroxine therapy in every case. Cases that do not qualify for immediate therapy need close follow up.
Full text
PDF




Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Althaus B. U., Staub J. J., Ryff-De Lèche A., Oberhänsli A., Stähelin H. B. LDL/HDL-changes in subclinical hypothyroidism: possible risk factors for coronary heart disease. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1988 Feb;28(2):157–163. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1988.tb03651.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bagchi N., Brown T. R., Parish R. F. Thyroid dysfunction in adults over age 55 years. A study in an urban US community. Arch Intern Med. 1990 Apr;150(4):785–787. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bastenie P. A., Bonnyns M., Neve P., Vanhaelst L., Chailly M. Clinical and pathological significance of asymptomatic atrophic thyroiditis. A condition of latent hypothyroidism. Lancet. 1967 Apr 29;1(7496):915–918. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(67)91486-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bastenie P. A., Vanhaelst L., Neve P. Coronary-artery disease in hypothyroidism. Lancet. 1967 Dec 9;2(7528):1221–1222. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(67)90562-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Clemens P. C. Subclinical hypothyroidism in the neonate: not to treat. Am J Med Sci. 1989 Feb;297(2):132–133. doi: 10.1097/00000441-198902000-00011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cooper D. S., Halpern R., Wood L. C., Levin A. A., Ridgway E. C. L-Thyroxine therapy in subclinical hypothyroidism. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 1984 Jul;101(1):18–24. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-101-1-18. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Evered D. C., Ormston B. J., Smith P. A., Hall R., Bird T. Grades of hypothyroidism. Br Med J. 1973 Mar 17;1(5854):657–662. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5854.657. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gordin A., Lamberg B. A. Natural course of symptomless autoimmune thyroiditis. Lancet. 1975 Dec 20;2(7947):1234–1238. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(75)92073-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Herrmann J. Prevalence of hypothyroidism in the elderly in Germany. A pilot study. J Endocrinol Invest. 1981 Jul-Sep;4(3):327–330. doi: 10.1007/BF03349452. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LLOYD W. H., GOLDBERG I. J. Incidence of hypothyroidism in the elderly. Br Med J. 1961 Nov 11;2(5262):1256–1259. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5262.1256. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MacFarlane I. A., Shalet S. M., Beardwell C. G., Khara J. S. Transient hypothyroidism after iodine-131 treatment for thyrotoxicosis. Br Med J. 1979 Aug 18;2(6187):421–421. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6187.421. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nyström E., Caidahl K., Fager G., Wikkelsö C., Lundberg P. A., Lindstedt G. A double-blind cross-over 12-month study of L-thyroxine treatment of women with 'subclinical' hypothyroidism. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1988 Jul;29(1):63–75. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1988.tb00250.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Olive K. E., Hennessey J. V. Marked hyperprolactinemia in subclinical hypothyroidism. Arch Intern Med. 1988 Oct;148(10):2278–2279. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Peden N. R., Hart I. R. The early development of transient and permanent hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroid Graves' disease. Can Med Assoc J. 1984 May 1;130(9):1141–1144. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sawers J. S., Toft A. D., Irvine W. J., Brown N. S., Seth J. Transient hypothyroidism after iodine-131 treatment of thyrotoxicosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1980 Feb;50(2):226–229. doi: 10.1210/jcem-50-2-226. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sawin C. T., Chopra D., Azizi F., Mannix J. E., Bacharach P. The aging thyroid. Increased prevalence of elevated serum thyrotropin levels in the elderly. JAMA. 1979 Jul 20;242(3):247–250. doi: 10.1001/jama.242.3.247. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Spencer C. A. Clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of sensitive thyrotropin assays in ambulatory and hospitalized patients. Mayo Clin Proc. 1988 Dec;63(12):1214–1222. doi: 10.1016/s0025-6196(12)65408-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Spencer C. A., Nicoloff J. T. Improved radioimmunoassay for human TSH. Clin Chim Acta. 1980 Dec 22;108(3):415–424. doi: 10.1016/0009-8981(80)90349-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Toft A. D., Irvine W. J., Sinclair I., McIntosh D., Seth J., Cameron E. H. Thyroid function after surgical treatment of thyrotoxicosis. A report of 100 cases treated with propranolol before operation. N Engl J Med. 1978 Mar 23;298(12):643–647. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197803232981202. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tunbridge W. M., Evered D. C., Hall R., Appleton D., Brewis M., Clark F., Evans J. G., Young E., Bird T., Smith P. A. The spectrum of thyroid disease in a community: the Whickham survey. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1977 Dec;7(6):481–493. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1977.tb01340.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Veldhuis J. D. 131I-induced hypothyroidism before recurrence of hyperthyroidism. Lancet. 1978 May 6;1(8071):993–994. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(78)90283-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
