Part 6- Treating T3 Deficiency, The Evidence you Need
Objectives
Upon completion of this workshop, the healthcare professional will be able to:
- Review 3 recent studies demonstrating that T4 thyroxine does not improve symptoms of hypothyroidism and therefore should not be used to treat subclinical hypothyroidism.
- Review other association papers and opinions that elevated levels of thyroid hormone and concomitant TSH suppression are associated with significant harm, sudden cardiac death, and osteoporosis remember ADNPC.
- Recall that the authors of the foregoing studies do not understand that ADNPC and the harm of Graves’ disease should not be extrapolated to exogenous thyroid replacement.
- Discuss where the addition of T3 improves symptomatic patients whereas the use of thyroxine does not.
- Review the data demonstrating that T4 thyroxine can suppress T3 levels which in turn can make hypothyroid symptoms worse, not better.
- Review the literature whereby TSH suppression is not synonymous with clinical hyperthyroidism.
- In reviewing any study, it is important to ascertain if the conclusions to the study reflect an evaluation of baseline lab values versus evaluation of treatment levels and the resultant outcomes. Again, baseline observation studies should not be extrapolated to what happens when one gives the hormone, particularly with regard to thyroid hormone.
- Discuss the meta-analysis demonstrating that endogenous Graves’s hyperthyroidism is associated with a 20% increased risk of sudden cardiac death, a-fib, stroke, PE and cancer.
- Recognize that these risks occur in patients after treatment for Graves’ disease that have an autoimmune disease that causes the morbidity, not thyroid hormones. Even after the thyroid gland is ablated and normal levels of thyroid hormone are restored. The disease continues to progress despite “normal” thyroid levels.
Instructor
Neal Rouzier, MD
Faculty Chairman
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by The Foundation for Care Management (FCM) and Worldlink Medical. FCM is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This program is approved for 1.0 AMA Category 1 Credits.
This program is approved for 1.0 Nursing Contact hour of Education.
Enrollment Options
Enroll today with a Premium Membership for $495/year, for access to THIS course and:
- All 1 Hour Accredited Courses (28+ more added monthly)
- All upcoming Accredited Monthly Webinars
- All upcoming Journal Clubs AND Journal Club Library
- EBSCOhost – research articles for the BHRT Workshop Series and to support your own evidence based studies!
