Saturday, September 09, 2006

Controversies in the treatment of hypothyroidism

Although it ought to be straightforward, several controversies regarding treatment of hypothyroidism have arisen in the past decade. These are covered in a review in the July/August 2006 issue of The Endocrinologist.

What is the optimal TSH target during treatment? 0.4 to 2.5 mIU/L.

Is T4 + T3 replacement superior to T4 replacement alone? No.

Is brand L-thyroxine superior to generic? Not according to the best available evidence.

Should subclinical hypothyroidism be treated? Probably not if the TSH is less than 10 mIU/L.

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