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Levothyroxine is typically used to treat hypothyroidism, [12] and is the treatment of choice for people with hypothyroidism [13] who often require lifelong thyroid hormone therapy. [14] It may also be used to treat goiter via its ability to lower thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is considered goiter-inducing.
[8] [50] Subclinical hypothyroidism is estimated to affect approximately 2% of children; in adults, subclinical hypothyroidism is more common in the elderly, and in White people. [49] There is a much higher rate of thyroid disorders, the most common of which is hypothyroidism, in individuals with Down syndrome [30] [62] and Turner syndrome. [30]
Myxedema (British English: myxoedema) is a term used synonymously with severe hypothyroidism.However, the term is also used to describe a dermatological change that can occur in hypothyroidism and (rare) paradoxical cases of hyperthyroidism.
Congenital iodine deficiency syndrome (CIDS), also called cretinism, [2] is a medical condition present at birth marked by impaired physical and mental development, due to insufficient thyroid hormone production (hypothyroidism) often caused by insufficient dietary iodine during pregnancy.
Liothyronine may be used when there is an impaired conversion of T 4 to T 3 in peripheral tissues. [2] The dose of liothyronine for hypothyroidism is a lower amount than levothyroxine due it being a higher concentrated synthetic medication. [2] About 25 μg of liothyronine is equivalent to 100 μg of levothyroxine. [3]
Certain medications can have the unintended side effect of affecting thyroid function. While some medications can lead to significant hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and those at risk will need to be carefully monitored, some medications may affect thyroid hormone lab tests without causing any symptoms or clinical changes, and may not require treatment.
The most common drugs in this class are thioamides, which include propylthiouracil, methimazole and its prodrug carbimazole. Additionally, propylthiouracil may reduce the de-iodination of thyroxine (T 4) into triiodothyronine (T 3) in peripheral tissues. [2] Lugol's iodine is used to temporarily block thyroid hormone synthesis before surgeries. [3]
Thyroid function tests (TFTs) is a collective term for blood tests used to check the function of the thyroid. [1] TFTs may be requested if a patient is thought to suffer from hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), or to monitor the effectiveness of either thyroid-suppression or hormone replacement therapy.