The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
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J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. · May 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialThe beneficial effect of L-thyroxine on cardiovascular risk factors, endothelial function, and quality of life in subclinical hypothyroidism: randomized, crossover trial.
Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is defined as raised serum TSH levels with circulating thyroid hormones within the reference range. It is uncertain whether treatment of SCH with L-thyroxine improves cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and quality of life. ⋯ SCH treated by L-thyroxine leads to a significant improvement in CV risk factors and symptoms of tiredness. The CV risk factor reduction is related to the increased level of achieved free T(4) concentration.
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J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. · May 2007
Measurement of serum free cortisol shows discordant responsivity to stress and dynamic evaluation.
Routinely available assays of adrenal function measure serum total cortisol (TC) and not the biologically active free cortisol (FC). However, there are few data on FC levels during surgical stress and in response to standard pharmacological tests. ⋯ The more pronounced increase in FC seen during stress as compared with the ACTH test suggests that this test does not adequately anticipate the FC levels needed during severe stress.