Open AccessLipid abnormalities in elderly patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism
Author(s) -
Zorica Čaparević,
Dragoš Stojanović,
Vesna Ilić,
Gradimir Bojković,
Mirjana Stojanović
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
medicinski pregled
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1820-7383
pISSN - 0025-8105
DOI - 10.2298/mpns0312564c
Subject(s) - medicine , subclinical infection , thyroid , endocrinology , hormone , atrial fibrillation , thyroiditis , cholesterol , thyroid stimulating hormone , gastroenterology
Sensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) assays provide identification of many patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism resulting from excessive production or excessive replacement of thyroid hormone. Subclinical hyperthyroidism is defined by a TSH below normal (suppressed) with normal serum T3 and T4 levels. Subclinical hyperthyroidism is the goal of thyroid hormone therapy in patients with thyroid cancer, solitary thyroid nodules, multinodular or diffuse goiters, or a history of head and neck irradiation. Benefits of TSH suppression in these patients, were thought to exceed the risks of subclinical hyperthyroidism. Subclinical hyperthyroidism also occurs in patients with thyroiditis and those with autoimmune thyroid disease. Other causes of TSH suppression, such as use of glucocorticoids, severe illness and pituitary dysfunction should be excluded.