Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined as an elevated serum TSH level associated with normal total or free T 4 and T 3 values. The overall prevalence has been reported to range from 4 -10% in large general population screening surveys (1-5) and from 7-26% in studies of the elderly (1-3, 6 -11). Because of the frequency with which this condition is encountered, important questions have been raised regarding its clinical relevance and appropriate management. One of the myths that surrounds subclinical hypothyroidism is that the laboratory profile of an elevated serum TSH and normal free thyroid hormone levels really represents "compensated hypothyroidism." The reasoning behind this idea is that, since the circulating levels of thyroid hormones are within the normal range with only the serum TSH being elevated, the affected subject is really euthyroid because the increased TSH is stimulating and driving the thyroid gland to produce normal thyroid hormone levels. Certainly, elevated serum TSH levels do stimulate even a diseased thyroid gland to produce and release more thyroid hormone. However, as long as the serum TSH level remains elevated, the thyroid hormone levels are not truly normal for that individual. The clearance kinetics of thyroid hormones and TSH from the circulation actually make such a conclusion inescapable. Because the half-life of T 4 is 7 d and that of T 3 is 1 d, the serum TSH, which has a half-life of less than 1 h, would certainly be expected to return to normal if thyroid hormone levels were, indeed, normal for that individual. An elevated TSH in an individual patient, thus, means that the circulating thyroid hormone concentrations are insufficient, with a few rare exceptions (TSH-secreting tumors, thyroid hormone resistance syndromes). We, indeed, believe that subclinical hypothyroidism represents mild thyroid failure and is a clinically important disorder that has adverse clinical consequences and that should be treated in most, if not all, cases. We will support this position by reviewing the reported objective data regarding its natural history, its clinical manifestations, and the benefits of treatment.
Natural historyMild thyroid failure represents an early stage of thyroid disease that will commonly progress to overt hypothyroid-ism. Progression has, in fact, been reported to occur in approximately 3-18% of affected patients per year (10 -17). One study evaluated the natural history of mild thyroid failure in 154 female patients over a 10-yr period; 57% of patients continued to have mild thyroid failure, 34% of patients progressed to overt hypothyroidism, and 9% of patients reverted to a normal TSH level. How many of the 9% had a transient form of thyroiditis such as silent, subacute, or postpartum thyroiditis is unclear (17). The strongest predictors of progression are the presence of antithyroid antibodies, serum TSH values greater than 20 U/ml, a history of radioiodine ablation for Graves' disease, a history of external radiation therapy for nonthyroid malignancies, and chronic lithiu...