Estimation of tissue hypothyroidism in patients with overt and subclinical hypothoidism

ABSTRACT

The clinical score, and tests that reflect tissue hypothyroidism [ankle reflex relaxation time, serum cholesterol level] were reevaluated in the high of the modern laboratory tests of thyroid function. We analyzed 95 female subjects: 40 overt hypothyroid patients, 25 sub clinical hypothyroidism [SCH], and 30 euthyroid control subjects. The clinical score was defined as the sum of the 2 best discriminating signs and symptom. Beside TSH and thyroid hormones, we measured parameters known to reflect tissue manifestations of hypothyroidism, such as ankle reflex relaxation time and total serum cholesterol. So Classical signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism were present only in patients with sever overt hypothyroidism with low T3, It has been found that the clinical score, showed an excellent correlation with ankle reflex relaxation time p < 0.01 and serum cholesterol level p < 0.001, and CK p < 0.01 but not correlated with serum TSH in patient group with overt hypothyroidism. While in subclinical hypothyrodism the clinical score correlate significantly with ankle reflex relaxation time p < 0.01 with fT4 p < 0.01 with serum TSH p < 0.01 but not correlated other parameters It could be concluded That Scoring of symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism with the new clinical score and measurement of ankle reflex relaxation time in addition to routine thyroid function tests is very useful for the individual assessment of thyroid failure and monitoring of treatment