ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate changes in thyroid function after 5 years, the interval proposed for new assessment, in initially euthyroid adults. Subjects and methods: Initially, 1,426 apparently healthy adults considered low risk for thyroid dysfunction, were evaluated by measurement of TSH. After 5 years, 1,215 (85.2%) subjects were reevaluated. Results: After 5 years, four subjects were receiving levothyroxine (L-T4) replacement therapy and 25 others had TSH > 4 mIU/L, only two of them with TSH > 10 mIU/L. All of […]

The laboratory methods usually employed for the measurement of serum TSH present sensitivity and specificity levels, both analytical and clinical, that are highly satisfactory. Additionally, the methodologies are quite robust, so that false-positive and false-negative results are rare and unexpected. In this paper we describe two individuals quoted as euthyroid clinically, with no reference to autoimmune diseases, and no reference to the use of exogenous TSH, that presented with normal to extremely high serum TSH levels, depending on the method […]