What is meant by the term mild thyroid failure?
This term is used to describe situations where people show the first feature of hypothyroidism, that is, a rise in the serum level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) while the level of thyroxine (T4) remain within the population normal range. This entity is also known as subclinical hypothyroidism or diminished thyroid reserve. The reason for recent preference for the term mild thyroid failure is that the early stages of primary hypothyroidism really do seem to have some important consequences – we should not just regard the elevation of TSH as a finding that is predictive of hypothyroidism in the future. What is the prevalence of mild thyroid failure in the Australian community? … Why is the term mild thyroid failure preferable to subclinical hypothyroidism or diminished thyroid reserve? … What is the evidence that mild thyroid failure has clinical consequences? … In mild thyroid failure, why does TSH increase before T4 becomes abnormal? … In mild or early thyroid failure, t
