Hypothyroidism

Question 1

Hyperthyroidism is associated with…..

Whereas hypothyroidism is associated with …..

(Men don’t get hyper!)

Answer 1

Hyperthyroidism is associated with oligomennorhoea, or amennorhoea, whereas hypothyroidism is associated with menorrhagia

Question 2

A 50-year-old woman presents to her GP with lethargy, hair loss, and cold sensitivity.

Routine tests are undertaken, which include the following results:

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): 8 mIU/l (0.5-5.0 mIU/L)
T4: 2.5 mcg/dL (5-12 mcg/dL)

What does she have and treatment?

Answer 2

Hypothyroidism, Levothryoxine

Question 3

78F tiredness, weight gain and constipation. Her medical history includes heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. She is on furosemide, atenolol, ramipril, amlodipine, amiodarone and metformin.

On examination, she has dry brittle hair.

Which medication is most likely to have caused this presentation?

Answer 3

Amiodarone

Amiodarone is known to cause both hypo- and hyperthyroidism but more commonly the former

Question 4

Constipation is classically a feature of hypothyroidism

Answer 4

Constipation is classically a feature of hypothyroidism