Endocrine Abstracts

Most L-T4 treated hypothyroid patients return to normal health without complaints. However, persistent symptoms such as tiredness, depression, decreased cognitive function, weight increase and musculoskeletal symptoms are described in 25% of L-T4 treated hypothyroid patients compared to 15–20% in controls. It has been assumed that all the necessary T3 could be derived from peripheral de-iodination of orally administered L-T4. Nevertheless, data has pointed towards a possi...

To date, all major guidelines designate LT4 as the standard. Are symptoms a reliable indicator of the presence of hypothyroidism? Fatigue in primary care, predicts a lifetime diagnosis of depression or anxiety more frequently than other outcomes. Tiredness has been examined in 26 meta-analyses. Only 4.3% of tired subjects have identifiable somatic disease (includes anemia, diabetes and hypothyroidism). In studies with control groups, the prevalence of somatic diseases was iden...