Professional Documents
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Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition Center, Affinity Medical Group, Neenah, Wisconsin
Member, Diabetes Advisory Group, Wisconsin Diabetes Prevention and Control Program
Member, Inpatient Diabetes Management Committee, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Appleton, WI
Chairman, Diabetes Steering Committee, AMG/NHP, Appleton, WI
www.endocrinology-online.com
Anatomy of the Thyroid Gland
Follicles: the Functional Units of
the Thyroid Gland
• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism
Typical Thyroid Hormone Levels
in Thyroid Disease
TSH T4 T3
Hypothyroidism High Low Low
Subclinical Hypothyroidism
TSH >4.7 IU/mL, Free T4 Normal
Euthyroid
TSH 0.5-4.7 IU/mL, Free T4 Normal
Hyperthyroidism
TSH <0.5 IU/mL, Free T3/T4 Normal or Elevated
0 5 10
TSH, IU/mL
Braverman LE, et al. Werner & Ingbar’s The Thyroid. A Fundamental and Clinical Text. 8th ed. 2000.
Canaris GJ, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:526-534.
Vanderpump MP, et al. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1995;43:55-68.
Prevalence of Abnormal Thyroid
Function
The Colorado Thyroid Disease Prevalence study
• Used thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels as a
measure of thyroid function
• Prevalence of elevated TSH levels (hypothyroidism)
was 9.5% and the prevalence of decreased TSH
levels (hyperthyroidism) was 2.2%
• Lipid levels increased as thyroid function declined
• 40% of patients taking thyroid medications had
abnormal TSH levels
14 Females
12 similar between
10 males and
8 females
6
4 • At ≥40 years of
2 age, a higher
0 percentage of
13- 20- 30- 40- 50- 60- 70- >80 female patients
19 29 39 49 59 69 79 have elevated
Age, y TSH levels
• Constipation
• Appetite decrease • Bradycardia
• Decreased concentration • Cardiac and lipid
• Sleep decrease • Decreased libido abnormalities
• Suicidal ideation • Delusions • Cold intolerance
• Weight loss • Depressed mood • Delayed reflexes
• Appetite increase/ • Diminished interest • Goiter
decrease • Sleep increase • Hair and skin
• Weight increase changes
• Fatigue
Bravernan LE, Utiger RE, eds. Werner & Ingbar's The Thyroid.
8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000.
Persani L, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000; 85:3631-3635.
Primary Hypothyroidism:
Underlying Causes
• Congenital hypothyroidism
– Agenesis of thyroid
– Defective thyroid hormone biosynthesis due to enzymatic defect
• Thyroid tissue destruction as a result of
– Chronic autoimmune (Hashimoto) thyroiditis
– Radiation (usually radioactive iodine treatment for thyrotoxicosis)
– Thyroidectomy
– Other infiltrative diseases of thyroid (eg, hemochromatosis)
• Drugs with antithyroid actions (eg, lithium, iodine, iodine-
containing drugs, radiographic contrast agents, interferon alpha)
6-8 Weeks
Singer PA, et al. JAMA. 1995;273:808-812. Demers LM, Spencer CA, eds.
Demers LM, Spencer CA, eds. The National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry Web site.
Available at: http://www.nacb.org/lmpg/thyroid_lmpg.stm. Accessed July 1, 2003.
Caution in Patients With Underlying
Cardiac Disease
• Using LT4 in those with ischemic heart disease increases
the risk of MI, aggravation of angina, or cardiac
arrhythmias
• For patients <50 years of age with underlying cardiac
disease, initiate LT4 at 25-50 g/d with gradual dose
increments at 6- to 8-week intervals
• For elderly patients with cardiac disease, start LT4 at
12.5-25 g/d, with gradual dose increments at 4- to 6-week
intervals
• The LT4 dose is generally adjusted in 12.5-25 g
increments
6 P<.001
TSH Level, IU/mL
0
Before Ingestion After Ingestion
Campbell NR, et al. Ann Intern Med. 1992;117:1010-1013.
Is there any role for T3
supplementation in the
management of
hypothyroidism?
NO!
Disorders Characterized by
Hyperthyroidism
Thyrotoxicosis and Hyperthyroidism
Definitions
• Thyrotoxicosis
–The clinical syndrome of hypermetabolism that
results when the serum concentrations of free
T4, T3, or both are increased
• Hyperthyroidism
–Sustained increases in thyroid hormone
biosynthesis and secretion by the thyroid gland
Family History of
First-Trimester Miscarriage/
Thyroid Disease
Excessive Vomiting in Pregnancy
or Diabetes
Initial Evaluation of a Patient with
Hyperthyroidism
• Beta blockers
• Corticosteroid therapy
• Bile acid sequestrants
• Iodide
Which Treatment to choose?
Depends on:
• Patient preference
• Severity of hyperthyroidism
• Evidence of complications of
hyperthyroidism
• Pregnancy
• The cause of hyperthyroidism