Thyroid dysfunction in the severely ill and elderly

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Manifestations of thyroid dysfunction may be totally misleading in severely ill and elderly patients, often confounding clinical diagnosis. To prevent undue morbidity and mortality in these patients, appropriate selection and accurate interpretation of thyroid function tests are crucial. In this article, Dr Isley compares the classic signs and symptoms of thyroid disorders with those that may appear in elderly patients and in patients severely ill with other diseases, and he presents algorithms for diagnosing thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism.

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William L. Isley

William L. Isley, MD Dr Isley is associate professor of medicine and chief, division of endocrinology and metabolism, University of Missouri—Kansas City School of Medicine.