Hypothyroidism in a physician’s practice: difficulties of diagnostics and treatment

Hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine disease after diabetes mellitus. Its frequency depends on age, sex and iodine intake. The highest prevalence of hypothyroidism is observed in older women. Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common cause of this condition. The peculiarity of hypothyroidism is an erased clinical picture, diversity and nonspecific symptoms. This makes it difficult to diagnose the disease, leads to an erroneous diagnosis and later detection of thyroid insufficiency. This article discusses the various «masks» of hypothyroidism and peculiarities of clinical manifestations. The main «masks» are: cardiological, dermatological, urological, gastroenterological, endocrine and reproductive system disorders, neurological, psychiatric, hematological, rheumatological. Free thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone are used to diagnose hypothyroidism, as well as antibody titer to thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin to detect chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. Levothyroxine preparations are used as a substitution therapy. The dose of the drug depends on the age of the patient and the presence of cardiovascular disease. Patients under 50 years of age without a severe concomitant cardiovascular disease are given 1.6 µg of levothyroxine per kg of body weight. In persons over 50 years of age with cardiovascular diseases, the drug dose is prescribed at the rate of 0.9 µg per kg of body weight. The therapy starts with small doses, slowly increasing it under the control of electrocardiography. At occurrence or strengthening of symptoms of angina a dose of levothyroxine is reduced to the previous one and the cardiovascular therapy is corrected. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment is carried out on the level of thyroid hormone.

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