Thyrotoxicosis: Hermus AR

Muller AF, Berghout A, Wiersinga WM, Kooy A, Smits JW, Hermus AR, Anonymous00181. · Diakonessenhuis Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands. · Neth J Med. · Pubmed #18349473 links to  free full text

Abstract: Thyroid function disorders are common with a female to male ratio of 4 to 1. In adult women primary hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis have a prevalence of 3.5/1000 and 0.8/1000, respectively. This guideline is aimed at secondary care providers especially internists, but also contains relevant information for interested general practitioners and gynaecologists. A multidisciplinary working group, containing delegates of professional and patient organisations, prepared the guideline. According to principles of 'evidence-based medicine' available literature was studied and discussed. Considering the availability and quality of published studies a practical advice was formulated. For a full overview of the literature and considerations the reader is referred to the original version of the guideline (accessible through NIV-net). In this manuscript we have aimed to provide the practicing internist with practical and 'as evidence-based as possible' treatment guidelines with respect to thyroid function disorders.

Hoogendoorn EH, Hermus AR, de Vegt F, Ross HA, Verbeek AL, Kiemeney LA, Swinkels DW, Sweep FC, den Heijer M. · Department of Endocrinology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. · Clin Chem. · Pubmed #16254196 links to  free full text

Abstract: BACKGROUND: We present a large European population-based study of thyroid function, performed in a population with longstanding borderline sufficient iodine intake. METHODS: The Nijmegen Biomedical Study is a population-based survey conducted in the eastern part of The Netherlands. Randomly selected inhabitants received a postal questionnaire on lifestyle and medical history, which was filled out by 9371 individuals (41.7%). We measured serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOAbs) in 6434 responders. A reference population of 5167 individuals was selected by excluding those at risk for thyroid disease. RESULTS: Overt thyrotoxicosis was found in 0.4% of the total population and subclinical thyrotoxicosis in 0.8%. Overt hypothyroidism was found in 0.4% and subclinical hypothyroidism in 4.0%. In individuals older than 60 years, mean FT4 concentrations increased with age. Mean TSH decreased with age, from 1.46 mIU/L at 18-24 years to 1.07 mIU/L after 85 years. The mean TSH in the total population did not differ from the mean TSH in the reference population; the exclusion of those at risk for thyroid disease, however, lowered the upper limit of the TSH reference interval considerably. In the total population, 8.6% of males and 18.5% of females had positive TPOAbs. The presence of TPOAbs was associated with abnormally high and low TSH concentrations. CONCLUSION: In inhabitants of the eastern part of The Netherlands, serum TSH gradually decreases with age, whereas after age 60, serum FT4 increases, possibly because of the development of thyroid autonomy after longstanding borderline sufficient iodine intake.