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Cited by 1,800Thyroid Disorders and TreatmentsThyroid and Parathyroid SurgeryThyroid Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 80 of the 80 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Subclinical Thyroid Disease: Scientific Review and Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management

Surks, Martin I., Ortiz, Eduardo, Daniels, Gilbert H., Sawin, Clark T., Col, Nananda F., Cobin, Rhoda H., Franklyn, Jayne A., Hershman, Jerome M., Burman, Kenneth D., Denke, Margo A., Gorman, Colum, Cooper, Richard S., Weissman, Neil J.·2004·JAMA
DOI 10.1001/jama.291.2.228
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Abstract

CONTEXT: Patients with serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels outside the reference range and levels of free thyroxine (FT4) and triiodothyronine (T3) within the reference range are common in clinical practice. The necessity for further evaluation, possible treatment, and the urgency of treatment have not been clearly established. OBJECTIVES: To define subclinical thyroid disease, review its epidemiology, recommend an appropriate evaluation, explore the risks and benefits of treatment and consequences of nontreatment, and determine whether population-based screening is warranted. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Biosis, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, National Guideline Clearing House, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Controlled Trials Register, and several National Health Services (UK) databases were searched for articles on subclinical thyroid disease published between 1995 and 2002. Articles published before 1995 were recommended by expert consultants. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: A total of 195 English-language or translated papers were reviewed. Editorials, individual case studies, studies enrolling fewer than 10 patients, and nonsystematic reviews were excluded. Information related to authorship, year of publication, number of subjects, study design, and results were extracted and formed the basis for an evidence report, consisting of tables and summaries of each subject area. DATA SYNTHESIS: The strength of the evidence that untreated subclinical thyroid disease is associated with clinical symptoms and adverse clinical outcomes was assessed and recommendations for clinical practice developed. Data relating the progression of subclinical to overt hypothyroidism were rated as good, but data relating treatment to prevention of progression were inadequate to determine a treatment benefit. Data relating a serum TSH level higher than 10 mIU/L to elevations in serum cholesterol were rated as fair but data relating to benefits of treatment were rated as insufficient. All other associations of symptoms and benefit of treatment were rated as insufficient or absent. Data relating a serum TSH concentration lower than 0.1 mIU/L to the presence of atrial fibrillation and progression to overt hyperthyroidism were rated as good, but no data supported treatment to prevent these outcomes. Data relating restoration of the TSH level to within the reference range with improvements in bone mineral density were rated as fair. Data addressing all other associations of subclinical hyperthyroid disease and adverse clinical outcomes or treatment benefits were rated as insufficient or absent. Subclinical hypothyroid disease in pregnancy is a special case and aggressive case finding and treatment in pregnant women can be justified. CONCLUSIONS: Data supporting associations of subclinical thyroid disease with symptoms or adverse clinical outcomes or benefits of treatment are few. The consequences of subclinical thyroid disease (serum TSH 0.1-0.45 mIU/L or 4.5-10.0 mIU/L) are minimal and we recommend against routine treatment of patients with TSH levels in these ranges. There is insufficient evidence to support population-based screening. Aggressive case finding is appropriate in pregnant women, women older than 60 years, and others at high risk for thyroid dysfunction.

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Crossref · 10.1001/jama.291.2.228

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Metadata

Authors
Surks, M. I., Ortiz, E., Daniels, G. H., Sawin, C. T., Col, N. F., Cobin, R. H., Franklyn, J. A., Hershman, J. M., Burman, K. D., Denke, M. A., Gorman, C., Cooper, R. S., & Weissman, N. J.
Affiliations
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs (US)
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
  • University of Birmingham (GB)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • MedStar Washington Hospital Center (US)
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio (US)
  • Mayo Clinic (US)
  • Loyola University Chicago (US)
  • Georgetown University (US)
ORCID
Venue
JAMA
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
2004-01-14
Volume
291
Issue
2
Pages
228
ISSN
  • 0002-9955 (ISSN-L)
  • 0098-7484
DOI
10.1001/jama.291.2.228
OpenAlex
W2107116656
Cited by
1,800
References
80
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 55 · 2021: 65 · 2020: 58 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 74 · 2017: 75 · 2016: 100 · 2015: 96 · 2014: 109 · 2013: 105 · 2012: 123
FWCI
65.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • JAMA (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Civil War Book Review (submittedVersion)
  • University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Thyroid Disorders and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Keywords
subclinical thyroid dysfunction, subclinical hypothyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, triiodothyronine, atrial fibrillation, serum cholesterol, bone mineral density, thyroid screening, pregnancy, treatment risks and benefits
MeSH terms
Humans, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Mass Screening, Reference Values, Risk, Thyroid Diseases, Thyrotropin

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