African Journal of Medical Case Reports

African Journal of Medical Case Reports Vol. 6 (2), pp. 001-013, February, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Hypothyroidism in adults: A review and recent advances in management

F. Bello* and A. G. Bakari

Department of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.

Accepted 13 November, 2017

Abstract

Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder resulting from deficiency of thyroid hormone or, more rarely, from their impaired activity at tissue level. In its clinically overt form, hypothyroidism is a relatively common condition, with an approximate prevalence of 2% in adult women and 0.2% in adult men. Deficiency of the hormone has a wide range of effects, because all metabolically active cells require thyroid hormone. The clinical features of hypothyroidism are dependent on the patient's age, the presence of other disease, and the rate at which hypothyroidism develops. Early detection and proper management is very important. Under treatment leads to disease progression with gradual worsening of symptoms and further metabolic derangements. Fortunately, in most patients older than 3 years, the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism are reversed with thyroid hormone treatment. A constant reminder on progress in management of the disease is needed. Thus, the aim of this review is to bring to notice the recent advances in the diagnosis and management of hypothyroidism and to highlight the risks involved in the global movement from consuming organic animals (as the world moves towards inorganic foods, which inhibits thyroid hormones).