Endocrine Abstracts

There is controversy on the upper thyrotropin (TSH) reference level. Currently available studies are based on cross-sectional data leaving uncertainty about the prognostic significance of the upper TSH reference level. Studies establishing TSH reference values should be evaluated using strict quality criteria including population representativeness and sample size. In addition, not only subjects with known thyroid disorder, but also those with subclinical disorders including g...

There is increasing evidence that differences in thyroid function within the clinically normal range, as defined by TSH within the reference range, is associated with health outcomes.TSH within the reference range is positively associated with presence of thyroid antibodies and with risk of overt hypothyroidism. Some cross-sectional studies indicate that low-normal thyroid function may be associated with adverse serum lipid levels, high blood pressure, h...

Background: Currently, physicians remain uncertain whether to screen and/or treat subclinical thyroid disease. Many observational studies, including cross-sectional, case–control, and prospective cohort studies, have reported on the association between subclinical thyroid disease and an ‘outcome of interest’. All cause mortality, coronary heart disease, fracture risk, and pregnancy outcome may drive the decision to screen or treat subclinical thyroid disease.</p...

Serum TSH is universally considered the best laboratory test to evaluate thyroid function. Current TSH reference ranges are 0.3–5.0 mU/l, but a narrower range (0.4–2.5) has been recently advocated, which better defines normal thyroid function. The question is still debated and matter of controversy, since it has been argued that with the narrower range, an additional 10% of the general population could be diagnosed as mild or subclinically hypothyroid, although most ...