Prospective Observation of 5-Year Clinical Course of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Korean Population
Journal of Korean Medical Science
;
: 1622-1626, 2013.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-148467
ABSTRACT
Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a common clinical condition, whereas it's natural course has not been identified distinctly. We evaluated the natural history of 169 SCH patients over 5-yr and the prognostic factors including thyroid autoantibodies and thyroid ultrasonographic (USG) findings related to develop overt hypothyroidism. After 5 yr, 47.3% of patients showed normalization of TSH, while 36.7% of patients remained persistence of high level of TSH, and overt hypothyroidism developed in 11.2% of patients. There were painless thyroiditis (2.9%) and hyperthyroidism (1.7%) during 5 yr follow-up. The thyroid nodule was seen in 48.6% of patients. Most of patients had 1 to 2 nodules whereas only 3% of patients with thyroid nodule had more than 6 nodules. Overt hypothyroidism patients had more heterogenous echogenecity in USG compared to patients with normalization or persistent SCH (76.5% vs 50.0% vs 35.0%, P = 0.048) and higher prevalence positive anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO Ab) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (anti-Tg Ab) and titer of anti-TPO Ab than other two groups. The cut off values for prediction of overt hypothyroidism were TSH > 7.45 microIU/mL, free T4 560 IU/mL. SCH has various courses and initial TSH, free T4, presence of thyroid autoantibody, titer of thyroid autoantibody; and thyroid USG findings can serve as a prognostic factor for progression of overt hypothyroidism. These parameters suggest consideration to initiate thyroid hormone treatment in SCH.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Autoantibodies
/
Thyroglobulin
/
Thyroid Function Tests
/
Thyroid Gland
/
Thyroiditis
/
Thyrotropin
/
Prevalence
/
Prospective Studies
/
Thyroid Nodule
/
Disease Progression
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Journal of Korean Medical Science
Year:
2013
Type:
Article
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS