Thyroxine therapy is given to replace thyroid hormone secretionwhen it is deficient (hypothyroidism) and also in certain circumstanceswhen suppression of thyrotropin secretion is considered to beof value, such as in patients with thyroid carcinoma. It isperhaps surprising that any problems are perceived, other thancompliance, with a treatment that has been available in oneform or another for over a century. However, the availabilityof increasingly sensitive assays for thyrotropin1 has led tocontroversy about the dose of thyroxine needed for replacementtherapy and about the safety of long-term suppressive treatment.Other issues include whether patients . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Replacement Therapy
Overt Hypothyroidism
Subclinical Hypothyroidism
Variation in Required Dose of Thyroxine
Transient Hypothyroidism
Ischemic Heart Disease
Pregnancy
Neonatal Hypothyroidism
Suppressive Therapy
Inappropriate Thyroxine Therapy
Summary
Source Information
From the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh EH3 9YW, Scotland, where reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Toft.
References
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