Abstract

MARTINEZ, L. Frequency of subclinical hyper and hypothyroidism in patients referred to the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2008, vol.6, n.2, pp.25-31. ISSN 1812-9528.

ABSTRACT The subclinical hyper and hypothyroidism are pathologies with a non-specific symptomatology, which often hampers their early diagnosis. The objective of this study was to estimate the frequency of these dysfunctions from the laboratory alteration of the values of the thyroid stimulating hormone, thyrotropin. It is a retrospective observational study of 561 pre-coded records of patients who attended the department of endocrinology of the IICS for a checkup control of thyroid hormones during three years (2004-2006). Other variables considered were gender, age and physical discomforts that patients referred at the time of sample collection. The frequency of subclinical hypothyroidism was 63.1% (354 patients) and subclinical hyperthyroidism was 36.9% (207 patients). It was found the frequency of both malfunctions is higher in women 93.8% (523 patients), in the age range of 31 to 50 years. As the symptoms of these malfunctions are very unspecific and they may be early detected by the laboratory determination of the thyrotropin, it would be useful the inclusion of a systematic control every five years, in the general population from 35 years of age, especially women, as recommended by the American Thyroid Association (ATA).

Keywords : subclinical hypothyroidism; subclinical hyperthyroidism; thyrotropin; Paraguay.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )