Hypothyroidism: Treatment and Monitoring

How to Subscribe
MLS & MLT Comprehensive CE Package
Includes 176 CE courses, most popular
$109Add to cart
Pick Your Courses
Up to 8 CE hours
$55Add to cart
Individual course$25Add to cart
Need multiple seats for your university or lab? Get a quote
The page below is a sample from the LabCE course Laboratory Assessment of Thyroid Function. Access the complete course and earn ASCLS P.A.C.E.-approved continuing education credits by subscribing online.

Learn more about Laboratory Assessment of Thyroid Function (online CE course)
Hypothyroidism: Treatment and Monitoring

Primary hypothyroidism is commonly treated with prescription supplementation of synthetic thyroxine.
Because not all immunoassays for free T4 are equivalent at measuring synthetic forms of synthetic thyroid hormone, adequacy of thyroid hormone supplementation is monitored using TSH. Recall that as circulating T4 levels rise, the design of the negative feedback loop should be the pituitary responding with a decreased production of TSH levels. Thus, normalized TSH levels, in conjunction with the improvement of hypothyroid-related symptoms, serve as a guide to physicians that the dosing is adequate.
If TSH levels fall below the therapeutic range, the amount of thyroid hormone treatment may be reduced, or if the TSH levels remain elevated, thyroid hormone supplementation may be increased. Monitoring frequency is often patient-specific but is typically performed on a monthly to semi-annual basis, depending on symptoms.
Note that such hormone supplementation to treat hypothyroidism with ongoing monitoring is likely a life-long course unless an underlying cause of the lack of hormone production can be identified and corrected.