Treatment of thyrotoxicosis

Abstract

Thyrotoxicosis is the clinical syndrome resulting from excess circulating free thyroxine (free-T4) and/or free tri-iodothyronine (free-T3) (Figure 1). Thyrotoxicosis is common, with a lifetime incidence of about 2% in women and 0.2% in men. The diagnosis is usually confirmed by the finding of a suppressed serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration in the presence of elevated free thyroid hormone levels. Because free-T3 concentration tends to rise before free-T4, ‘T3 toxicosis’ (elevated free-T3, but normal free-T4) is often the earliest phase of any form of thyrotoxicosis.