Subclinical hypothyroidism can cause many of the same symptoms as overt hypothyroidism, and it may increase your risk of heart problems.

Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism have slight elevations of TSH although their thyroid hormone levels are in the normal range. Recent studies indicate that patients with TSH levels >2.0 miu/L often show symptoms of subclinical hypothyroidism although TSH levels > 3.0 miu/L are generally used to diagnose subclinical hypothyroidism.

Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism along who also have positive thyroid antibody titers, either thyroglobulin, TPO, or TSH receptor antibodies, have a 5% risk annually of developing overt hypothyroidism.

Subclinical hypothyroidism can develop in Graves' patients who have been ablated even if they are on replacement therapy. Depending on the natural disease course, patients who have long been in remission after using ATD's can also suddenly develop subclinical hypothyroidism.

With the new AACE guidelines for TSH, more people than ever before will finally be diagnosed properly for both subclinical and overt hypothyroidism. According to the new guidelines the normal or reference range for TSH is now 0.3-3.0 mu/L. For patients on replacement hormone, the guidelines recommend keeping TSH within the range of 0.2-1.0 mu/L. ♦

Other Resources

Adding T3 Replacement Hormone for Mood Problems in Hypothyroidism

elaine-moore.com
Elaine Moore Graves’ Disease and Autoimmune Disease Education
Copyright © 2008-2011 by Elaine Moore. All Rights Reserved. These pages and their content, including all articles written by Elaine Moore, are not to be copied, reproduced or printed without written permission.

This site is self-funded exclusively by Elaine Moore. Ms. Moore receives no funding from Amazon.
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Site last updated: August 5, 2011

DISCLAIMER: The educational information provided within is designed to help users better understand the nature of disease and the solutions available. Nothing contained on this website should be construed as or is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Under no circumstances is a particular treatment recommended and in all cases it is recommended that a physician be consulted for any treatments. Reference to any specific commercial or noncommercial products, services, processes, companies or trademarks does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Elaine Moore does not host any form of commercial advertisement, does not sponsor or endorse any products or services that may have been mentioned at the site. This excludes mention of her own copyrighted materials, articles, and books. The opinions, views and recommendations of individual registered members of this website are their own and do not necessarily represent those of Elaine Moore and her businesses.