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Hypothyroidism

Open access
Chaker, Layal, Bianco, Antonio C, Jonklaas, Jacqueline, Peeters, Robin P·2017·The Lancet

Abstract

Hypothyroidism is a common condition of thyroid hormone deficiency, which is readily diagnosed and managed but potentially fatal in severe cases if untreated. The definition of hypothyroidism is based on statistical reference ranges of the relevant biochemical parameters and is increasingly a matter of debate. Clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism range from life threatening to no signs or symptoms. The most common symptoms in adults are fatigue, lethargy, cold intolerance, weight gain, constipation, change in voice, and dry skin, but clinical presentation can differ with age and sex, among other factors. The standard treatment is thyroid hormone replacement therapy with levothyroxine. However, a substantial proportion of patients who reach biochemical treatment targets have persistent complaints. In this Seminar, we discuss the epidemiology, causes, and symptoms of hypothyroidism; summarise evidence on diagnosis, long-term risk, treatment, and management; and highlight future directions for research.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/s0140-6736(17)30703-1

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141 of 141 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Typical persistent hypothyroid symptoms include lethargy, sleepiness, memory problems, depression, and weight gain.

    “Typical persistent hypothyroid symptoms include lethargy, sleepiness, memory problems, depression, and weight gain.6”

    From Hypothyroidism (2024) · cites this paper as [6]

    The Signs and symptoms section lists lethargy and weight gain as common hypothyroid symptoms and discusses cognitive impairment. The Treatment section identifies depression as a possible persistent symptom despite biochemical control, but does not establish that the full list—including sleepiness and memory problems—is typical of persistent symptoms. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  • The distribution of serum TSH reference interval is right-shifted with age, giving an upper 97.5% confidence interval of around 7.5 mU/L in healthy elderly people.

    “the distribution of serum TSH reference interval is right -shifted with age, 24 -26 giving an upper 97.5% confidence interval of around 7.5 mU/L in healthy elderly people. 2,3”

    From Use of liothyronine (T3) in hypothyroidism: Joint British Thyroid Association/Society for endocrinology consensus statement (2023) · cites this paper as [2]

    The Diagnosis section (“Reference ranges of thyroid function tests”; page not provided) says the upper limit of TSH reference ranges typically increases with age. It defines the upper reference limit as the 97.5th percentile, but does not give a value of around 7.5 mU/L for healthy elderly people. The claim also calls that percentile a confidence interval. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Free T4 measurement is often disturbed in the presence of high circulating thyroid hormone-binding proteins because the methods do not correct the total T4 measured by the platforms in the extreme ends of the correction curve.

    “free T4 measurement is often disturbed in the presence of high circulating thyroid hormone-binding proteins, because the methods do not correct the total T4 measured by the platforms in the extreme ends of the correction curve”

    From ETA guidelines for the use of levothyroxine sodium preparations in monotherapy to optimize the treatment of hypothyroidism (2025) · cites this paper as [87]

    In “Diagnosis > Conditions that interfere with diagnosis” (page not available), the paper says the accuracy of free thyroxine immunoassays has been questioned when binding-protein concentrations change. It does not specify high concentrations, say measurement is often disturbed, or attribute the problem to failure to correct total T4 at the ends of a correction curve; it also says the assays generally perform well in clinical practice. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Due to high and increasing distribution proteins, a TSH-like effect from HCG, an unstable hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid balance, and the long physiological half-life of T4, it can be challenging to correctly interpret TSH and FT4.

    “Due to the very high and increasing distribution proteins, a TSH-like effect from HCG, an unstable hypothalamus–pituitary–thyroid balance, and the long physiological half-life of T4, it can be challenging to correctly interpret the most commonly used thyroid function tests TSH and FT4 (87, 88).”

    From ETA guidelines for the use of levothyroxine sodium preparations in monotherapy to optimize the treatment of hypothyroidism (2025) · cites this paper as [87]

    The Diagnosis section ('Conditions that interfere with diagnosis'; page unavailable) says that pregnancy-related changes in binding-protein concentrations can complicate free-thyroxine immunoassays. It does not attribute difficulty interpreting TSH and FT4 to an hCG-mediated TSH-like effect, an unstable hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid balance, or T4’s long half-life; searches for those terms did not establish those mechanisms in this paper. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • TSH is the most sensitive and earliest biochemical marker of hypothyroidism.

    “The pituitary -derived TSH, due to its complex inverse association with the thyroid hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine), is the most sensitive and earliest biochemical marker of hypothyroidism. 2,3”

    From Use of liothyronine (T3) in hypothyroidism: Joint British Thyroid Association/Society for endocrinology consensus statement (2023) · cites this paper as [2]

    The Introduction (page not available) describes elevated TSH with normal free thyroxine as a sign of early thyroid failure, supporting TSH as an early biochemical indicator. The Diagnosis section uses TSH to define primary hypothyroidism, but the paper does not establish that it is the most sensitive or earliest marker compared with all others. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Chaker, L., Bianco, A. C., Jonklaas, J., & Peeters, R. P.
Affiliations
  • Erasmus MC (NL)
  • Rush University Medical Center (US)
  • Georgetown University (US)
Corresponding author
Peeters, Robin P
Venue
The Lancet
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-09
Volume
390
Issue
10101
Pages
1550-1562
ISSN
  • 0099-5355 (ISSN-L)
  • 0140-6736
OpenAlex
W4211084027
Cited by
1,159
References
141
Citations by year
2026: 111 · 2025: 165 · 2024: 193 · 2023: 154 · 2022: 157 · 2021: 139 · 2020: 110 · 2019: 68 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 1
FWCI
9.49
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Lancet (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion)
  • Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
Funders
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK065055)
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
hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone deficiency, levothyroxine, thyroid hormone replacement, hypothyroidism diagnosis, hypothyroidism symptoms, long-term risk, treatment goals
MeSH terms
Hypothyroidism, Thyroxine, Disease Management, Hormone Replacement Therapy

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