Abstract
Thyroid diseases are frequent, more frequent in women than in men. Besides overt forms of thyroid dysfunction, it is important to pay attention to subclinical forms as well.
Since the introduction of assays for serum thyrotropin (TSH) that are sensitive enough to distinguish between normal and low thyrotropin concentrations in 1984, the diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction has become an easy medical proces. TSH level are usually almost undetect-able in patients with hyperthyroidism and elevated in those with hypothyroidism.
The variation in prevalence of thyroid dysfunction can be explained largely by differences in what is considered a normal range for TSH and for peripheral hormones, i.e. thyroxine and triiodothyronine. In groups of patients at higher risk (i.e. women, people with family history of autoimmune and/or thyroid disease), the prevalence of thyroid disease is at least 10%.
We use several case studies to demonstrate necessity of cooperation between the endocrinologist and other specialists - cardiologist, osteologists, oncologists. Special attention is required in patients waiting for transplantation or those treated by monoclonal antibodies.