The American Journal of Medicine
Volume 123, Issue 6 , Pages 502-504, June 2010

Subclinical Thyroid Disease

  • Dana D. Jones, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Endocrinology, University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson
    • Medical Service, GV (Sonny) Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Jackson, Miss
    • Corresponding Author InformationRequests for reprints should be addressed to Dana D. Jones, MD, Medical Service (111), Jackson VAMC, 1500 E. Woodrow Wilson Drive, Jackson, MS 39216
    • ,
  • Katherine E. May, MD

      Affiliations

    • Medical Service, GV (Sonny) Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Jackson, Miss
    • ,
  • Stephen A. Geraci, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson

Abstract 

Subclinical thyroid disease, a term applied to patients with no or minimal thyroid-related symptoms with abnormal laboratory values, is diagnosed more frequently with the use of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) screening and newer high-sensitivity assays. These are laboratory diagnoses, with subclinical hypothyroidism defined as an elevated TSH with a normal free thyroxine and triiodothyronine concentration, and subclinical hyperthyroidism as a subnormal TSH with normal free thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels. Although studies defining which patients require treatment are few, decisions should be individualized based upon laboratory values and symptoms. This article reviews the etiologies, diagnoses, treatments and indications, and monitoring of patients with subclinical thyroid disease.

Keywords: Management, Outpatient, Subclinical hyperthyroidism, Subclinical hypothyroidism

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 Funding: There is no funding source for this manuscript.

 Conflict of Interest: All authors attest that they have no real or apparent conflicts of interest related to the content of this work.

 Authorship: All authors had both access to the data and a role in writing the manuscript.

PII: S0002-9343(10)00168-3

doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.12.023

The American Journal of Medicine
Volume 123, Issue 6 , Pages 502-504, June 2010

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