Hypothyroidism: Modern Methods of Diagnosis and Treatment

Abstract

Hypothyroidism is one of the most common diseases of the endocrine system, caused by insufficient production of thyroid hormones or a decrease in their biological action on target tissues. According to population studies, overt hypothyroidism is detected in 0.3–3.7% of the adult population and subclinical hypothyroidism in 4–10%, with the incidence increasing significantly in women and in people over 60 [1, 2]. Despite the availability of highly sensitive laboratory diagnostic methods, up to 50% of cases of hypothyroidism remain unrecognised at the outpatient stage, which makes this review relevant [3]. A number of unresolved issues are of particular clinical importance: the optimal target TSH values in elderly patients, the advisability of treating subclinical hypothyroidism, and the use of combined replacement therapy with thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).