ABSTRACT
Hypothyroidism refers to a state of thyroid hormone deficiency and is seen in about 10% of people residing in South Asia. The most common etiology remains iodine deficiency followed by autoimmune thyroiditis whereas in areas of iodine sufficiency, autoimmune form is most common. The spectrum of hypothyroidism can range from newborn (congenital hypothyroidism), early childhood (growth failure), late childhood (pubertal delay, goiter) to adults in reproductive age-group (infertility, menstrual irregularity) and elderly (dementia, depression). Commonly, the clinical presentation may be nonspecific. The diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism is made by hormonal testing with a raised TSH with/without a low T4. Although added triiodothyronine (T3) replacement is advocated by a few groups, the standard treatment remains levothyroxine (T4) replacement that is simple and effective.
