Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;10(2):490-496. DOI: 10.5812/ijem.

3447

International Journal of

KOWSAR

Endocrinology
Metabolism
www.EndoMetabol.com

Management of Subclinical Hyperthyroidism

Silvia Santos Palacios 1, Eider Pascual-Corrales 1, Juan Carlos Galofre 1*
1 Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, University Clinic of Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

AR T I C LE

I NFO

Article type:
Review Article
Article history:
Received: 07 Nov 2011
Revised: 03 Dec 2011
Accepted: 06 Dec 2011
Keywords:
Hyperthyroidism
Disease Management
Therapeutics
Graves Disease

AB S TRAC T
The ideal approach for adequate management of subclinical hyperthyroidism (low levels
of thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] and normal thyroid hormone level) is a matter of
intense debate among endocrinologists. The prevalence of low serum TSH levels ranges
between 0.5% in children and 15% in the elderly population. Mild subclinical hyperthyroidism is more common than severe subclinical hyperthyroidism. Transient suppression of
TSH secretion may occur because of several reasons; thus, corroboration of results from
different assessments is essential in such cases. During differential diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, pituitary or hypothalamic disease, euthyroid sick syndrome, and drug-mediated
suppression of TSH must be ruled out. A low plasma TSH value is also typically seen in
the first trimester of gestation. Factitial or iatrogenic TSH inhibition caused by excessive
intake of levothyroxine should be excluded by checking the patients medication history.
If these nonthyroidal causes are ruled out during differential diagnosis, either transient
or long-term endogenous thyroid hormone excess, usually caused by Graves disease or
nodular goiter, should be considered as the cause of low circulating TSH levels.
We recommend the following 6-step process for the assessment and treatment of this
common hormonal disorder: (1) confirmation, (2) evaluation of severity, (3) investigation of the cause, (4) assessment of potential complications, (5) evaluation of the necessity of treatment, and (6) if necessary, selection of the most appropriate treatment.
In conclusion, management of subclinical hyperthyroidism merits careful monitoring
through regular assessment of thyroid function. Treatment is mandatory in older patients
(> 65 years) or in presence of comorbidities (such as osteoporosis and atrial fibrillation).
Copyright

2012 Kowsar Corp. All rights reserved.

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:

Management of subclinical hyperthyroidism is not always straightforward. Good practice requires a systematic study and careful
evaluation. The need of treatment of this frequent disorder must be individualized.

Please cite this paper as:

Santos Palacios S, Pascual-Corrales E, Galofre JC. Management of Subclinical Hyperthyroidism. Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;10(2):490-6.
DOI: 10.5812/ijem.3447

1. Background
1.1. What is Subclinical Hyperthyroidism?
Subclinical hyperthyroidism is characterized by circulating thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone; TSH) levels
below the reference range and normal serum thyroid hormone levels (1). The diagnosis is primarily biochemical and
depends on the definition of normal TSH levels. In 2002, a

* Corresponding author: Juan Carlos Galofre, Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, University Clinic of Navarra, Pio XII, 36. 31008 Pamplona,
Spain. Tel: +94-8255400, Fax: +94-8296500, E-mail: jcgalofre@unav.es
DOI: 10.5812/ijem.3447
Copyright c 2012 Kowsar Corp. All rights reserved.

panel of experts established the reference range for serum

THS levels between 0.45 and 4.5 U/mL (National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey [NHANES] III) (2) However, many specialists have proposed a reconsideration of this
reference range in the light of data suggesting that, under
certain circumstances, serum THS levels less than 4.5 U/mL
could mask thyroid dysfunction (3-9). Therefore, various aspects relevant to clinical practice should be considered in
this regard. First, the traditional one size fits all policy cannot be applied to fix the reference range of circulating thyroid hormone levels. While interpreting serum TSH levels,
physiological variations as well as presence of occult thyroid disease should be considered. Several anthropomet-

Santos Palacios S et al.

Management of Subclinical

ric variables, including age, gender, race, and body mass

index (BMI), have a noticeable influence over circulating
TSH levels (8-10). In addition, other factors such as concurrent medication, coexisting pregnancy, or concomitant diseases should be considered in order to correctly interpret
TSH, thyroxin (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3) status (8). As
mentioned earlier, the definitions of both subclinical and
overt hyperthyroidism (abnormal TSH with high thyroid
hormone levels) are primarily biochemical, because the
signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism are nonspecific
and may be present in patients with subclinical disease and
absent in those with overt disease, especially in the elderly
population. Additionally, clinicians should consider 3 important facts while interpreting the results of thyroid function tests (11): (1) TSH secretion follows a circadian rhythm
with higher values early in the morning and lowest value in
the afternoon; (2) THS secretion is pulse-regulated; and (3)
THS half-life is about 15 min.

1.2. How to Screen for Thyroid Disease?

Sidebar . Causes of Subclinical Hyperthyroidism (or Low Serum TSH Level)

Origin

Condition

Endogenous
Persistent

Transient

Other

Toxic Adenoma
Toxic Multinodular Goiter
Graves disease
Pituitary disease (Central hypothyroidism) a
Subacute thyroiditis
Silent thyroiditis
Postpartum thyroiditis
Euthyroid Sick Syndrome
Initial post-therapy period after treatment for
overt hyperthyroidism
Pregnancy (especially during the first trimester)

Exogenous
Iatrogenic Overtreatment with levothyroxine (most common cause)
Factitial thyrotoxicosis (surreptitious levothyroxine intake)
Drug-induced thyroiditis (amiodarone, -IFN)
Iodide excess (radiographic contrasts)
TSH-lowering medications (steroids, dopamine)

Although systematic screening for subclinical thyroid

dysfunction is not recommended by the 2004 American
experts task force, identification of cases in high-risk
populations is highly advisable (12). However, serum TSH
determination is universally regarded as the best test for
the initial assessment of thyroid dysfunction (13). The
plausible biochemical findings in patients with subclinical thyroid disease range between mild and severe dysfunction. A classification system for subclinical hyperthyroidism has been proposed recently, which differentiates
between low serum TSH levels (0.10.4 U/mL; Grade I or
mild) and suppressed TSH concentration (< 0.1 U/mL;
Grade II or severe) (14). Grade I subclinical hyperthyroidism is 3 to 4 times more common than Grade II subclinical hyperthyroidism. The risk of progression from Grade
I to overt disease is very low. Conversely, about 2% to 5%
of the cases of Grade II hyperthyroidism progress to
clinical disease per year (14). In some cases, subclinical
hyperthyroidism may present with a normal serum level
of free T4 (FT4) while the serum T3 level remains above
the reference range. This unusual laboratory finding has
been called T3-toxicosis and may represent the earliest
stages of disease, which is normally caused by an autonomously functioning thyroid nodule (1). All these categories are relevant in clinical practice.

differentiated thyroid cancer, in which the therapeutic

target is to achieve and maintain TSH suppression by administering supraphysiological doses of levothyroxine
(LT4). Thus, factitial or iatrogenic THS suppression due
to excessive intake of LT4 should always be excluded by
history-taking during the differential diagnosis of subclinical hyperthyroidism.
Endogenous hyperthyroidism: Subclinical overactive
thyroid dysfunction similar to that in overt hyperthyroidism may be caused by Graves disease, toxic multinodular goiter, toxic adenoma, and different types of
thyroiditis (15).
Miscellaneous conditions: TSH secretion may be transiently suppressed because of other causes such as euthyroid sick syndrome or concomitant use of TSH-suppressing
drugs, e.g., steroids, dobutamine, amiodarone, and dopamine. These conditions are usually associated with low
or lownormal serum T4 and T3 levels (16), and therefore,
should be ruled out in the differential diagnosis of subclinical hyperthyroidism. Moreover, low TSH levels are also normally seen in the first trimester of pregnancy (17).

1.3. What is the Origin of Subclinical Hyperthyroidism?

2. Patients and Methods

Thyrotoxicosis can be exogenous or endogenous. Hyperthyroidism caused by underlying pituitary or hypothalamic disease should always be excluded during the
differential diagnosis of subclinical hyperthyroidism
(Sidebar).
Exogenous subclinical thyrotoxicosis: This is the most
common type of subclinical hyperthyroidism. Irrespective of the cause of hypothyroidism, thyroid blood tests
in overtreated hypothyroid patients show results consistent with those of subclinical hyperthyroidism. Similar
findings are observed in many patients with a history of

After the diagnosis of subclinical hyperthyroidism,

management of the condition involves the following
6 steps: (1) confirmation, (2) assessment of severity, (3)
determination of the cause, (4) assessment of potential
complications, (5) evaluation of the necessity of treatment, and (6) selection of the most convenient therapy,
in patients who require treatment. A flowchart summarizing this process is displayed in Figure 1. These steps
should be followed for all patients, irrespective of their
age, although elderly patients should receive thorough
management.

Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;10(2):in press

a Usually associated with low Thyroxin and low Triiodothyronine

491

Santos Palacios S et al.

Management of Subclinical

Figure 1. Flowchart for Management of Subclinical Hyperthyroidism

2.1. Confirmation of the Diagnosis of Subclinical Hyperthyroidism

A case showing low serum TSH concentration with
normal levels of peripheral thyroid hormones in absence of symptoms requires further confirmation with
a complete thyroid profile analysis, including assessments of serum FT4 and T3 levels, after 13 months. If
symptoms (such as cardiac arrhythmias) suggestive of
hyperthyroidism are present, TSH measurement should
be repeated after 2 weeks (18). Some reports indicate
that approximately 50% of the cases of abnormal serum
TSH levels resolve spontaneously, especially in Grade I
(9-21). Spontaneous remission is more likely in subclinical Graves disease than in toxic multinodular goiter;
accordingly, subclinical hyperthyroidism due to autonomous nodule(s) is more likely to progress to overt hyperthyroidism than that related to Graves disease (22).
Patients showing consistently low TSH levels in repeated
measurements for over a 36-month period should be diagnosed as having a thyroid disorder (1).

2.2. Severity Assessment

Patients showing persistently very low serum TSH
values (< 0.1 U/mL; Grade II) should be treated for the
underlying cause of subclinical hyperthyroidism. Treatment is mandatory in patients aged over 65 years and in

492

patients with associated comorbidities (such as heart disease or osteoporosis) or symptoms suggestive of hyperthyroidism (see section 5). A confirmed finding of mild
to low serum TSH values (0.10.4 U/mL; Grade I) indicates that treatment may be not necessary (23). However,
careful monitoring of this group of untreated patients
is recommended. Periodic assessment should include
measurement of TSH, FT4, and T3 levels every 6 months.
In contrast, symptomatic, elderly patients ( > 65 years),
and patients with underlying cardiovascular diseases
should always receive appropriate treatment. Additionally, treatment is also recommended for patients who
show a positive thyroid radionuclide scan with 1 or more
focal areas of increased uptake (evidence of autonomy).

2.3. Determination of the Causes of Subclinical Hyperthyroidism

As mentioned earlier, TSH may be transiently suppressed because of various reasons (Sidebar). Investigation and confirmation of the cause are important steps
during follow up. The most common cause of endogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism is release of excess thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland (1). In older persons,
toxic multinodular goiter is probably the most common
cause of subclinical hyperthyroidism (24). Nevertheless,
patients should be inquired about any current medication that they may be using because some frequently

Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;10(2):in press

Santos Palacios S et al.

Management of Subclinical

used drugs (such as steroids or exogenous T4) inhibit pituitary TSH secretion, especially in older patients. Serum
TSH concentrations in treated hyperthyroid patients or
in those recovering from the thyrotoxic phase of thyroiditis may remain low even several months after normalization of circulating T4 and T3 levels. Transient low
serum TSH levels are considered normal during the first
trimester of pregnancy. True subclinical hyperthyroidism may occur in pregnant women, but it is not typically
associated with adverse outcomes during pregnancy
and does not require therapy (25). Individuals with central hypothyroidism generally have low serum TSH levels
and normal (but usually low or lownormal) FT4 and T3
levels. Some studies have reported the existence of an
altered set point of the hypothalamicpituitarythyroid
axis in some healthy elderly people (26, 27). Elderly people may have low serum TSH levels and lownormal serum levels of FT4 and T3, without evidence of thyroid or
pituitary disease (28, 29).

2.4. Assessment of Potential Complications

Clinical manifestations of both overt and mild (or subclinical) thyrotoxicosis are similar, but differ in magnitude. Potential complications of untreated subclinical
hyperthyroidism are numerous and include weight loss,
osteoporosis, atrial fibrillation, embolic events, and altered cognition. The most profound consequences of
subclinical overactive thyroid dysfunction are observed
on the cardiovascular system (30) and the skeleton (16).
The following potential complications are of utmost importance in elderly patients.
Bone and mineral metabolism: Thyroid hormones directly stimulate bone resorption. Changes induced by
the thyroid hormones are mainly observed in the cortical bone (wrist), to a significantly low extent in the trabecular bone (spine), and to an intermediate extent in
the mixed corticaltrabecular bone (hip). Whether subclinical hyperthyroidism increases the fracture rate in
the normal population is a matter of intense debate (31).
However, postmenopausal women with subclinical hyperthyroidism may have high fracture rates even though
they show only mildly suppressed serum TSH levels (31,
32). Therefore, to rule out osteoporosis, it is advisable to
include a bone mineral densitometric study in the assessment of these patients.
Cardiovascular effects: Subclinical hyperthyroidism
has several negative effects on cardiac function. These effects are similar to, but milder and less frequent than,
those of overt hyperthyroidism. In a recent populationbased study in Scotland, endogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism was associated with an increased risk of
nonfatal cardiovascular disease (33). Additional related
complications included tachycardia, atrial fibrillation,
increased left ventricular mass index, increased cardiac
contractility, impaired endothelial function, reduced
exercise tolerance, reduced heart rate variability, and hypercoagulability (34, 35). The presence of cardiovascular
complications is probably dependent on the degree of
TSH suppression, the underlying cause of hyperthyroid-

Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;10(2):in press

ism, and the individuals sensitivity to excess thyroid

hormone. Small-scale uncontrolled studies have shown
an improvement in cardiac parameters of patients after
restoration of the euthyroid state (36, 37) or after treatment with beta-adrenergic blocking drugs (38). Atrial
fibrillation is a well-recognized complication of hyperthyroidism that commonly leads to embolic events. The
frequency of atrial fibrillation is high in patients with
subclinical hyperthyroidism. A prospective cohort study
in approximately 2,000 adults (age > 60 years), with a
follow-up period of 10 years, showed that low serum TSH
level is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (39). This study
analyzed the relationship between serum TSH levels and
the incidence of atrial fibrillation. Cumulative incidence
rates of atrial fibrillation in subjects with serum TSH values lower than 0.1 U/mL (Grade II subclinical hyperthyroidism), between 0.1 and 0.4 U/mL (Grade I subclinical
hyperthyroidism), and within the normal range were
28%, 16%, and 11%, respectively. Analogous results were published in another prospective cohort study that showed
a relationship between subclinical hyperthyroidism and
development of atrial fibrillation, although the data did
not support the hypothesis that unrecognized subclinical hyperthyroidism is related to cardiac disorders (40).
Cardiovascular mortality as a complication of subclinical hyperthyroidism is a matter that requires detailed
investigation. All-cause and cardiovascular mortalities
were assessed in a 10-year prospective study in a population with low serum TSH level (41). The investigators
found higher mortality rates at 1, 2, and 5 years of follow
up, but not after 10 years. A recent meta-analysis of 5 population-based studies on subclinical thyroid dysfunction
showed that the risk of cardiovascular mortality was not
significant in the population with low serum TSH level
(42). In contrast, another meta-analysis with a similar
design showed that subclinical thyroid disease is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (43).
Overall, the increased risk of mortality from subclinical
hyperthyroidism appears to be low, but it could increase
with age and degree of TSH suppression (43).
Dementia and depression: Although the data are conflicting, some authors have suggested that subclinical
hyperthyroidism may be associated with dementia (33,
44). In contrast, a cross-sectional study in 295 English
patients diagnosed with subclinical thyroid dysfunction
did not show any association between subclinical hyperthyroidism and depression, anxiety, or cognitive function (45).

2.5. Need for Treatment

In endocrinology, the necessity of treatment for patients with subclincal hyperthyroidism is an open question (31, 46-50). The criteria for treatment of this disorder are controversial, and individualized judgment is
mandatory in order to evaluate the grade and clinical
consequences of the disorder in a given patient. Since
prospective studies show that isolated low serum TSH
levels spontaneously return to normal in nearly 50% of
patients, caution and regular monitoring are the recom-

493

Santos Palacios S et al.

mended initial approaches (31, 46). Additionally, only 5%

of individuals with subclinical disease develop overt dysfunction yearly.
The 2004 American guidelines classified subclinical hyperthyroid patients according to the origin (endogenous
or exogenous) and severity of the disorder. According to
these guidelines, the treatment depends on the abovementioned criteria and should be decided after considering the risks and benefits in each case (31).
In any event, therapy strategies vary depending on 3
key factors (47, 49, 50): (1) cause, (2) severity, and (3) associated morbidity.
Cause: Etiological diagnosis must be performed before
the initiation of treatment.
Exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism in patients
receiving LT4 treatment only requires dose adjustment
(31). However, it is necessary to consider that certain patients with a medical history of thyroid carcinoma need
chronic TSH suppressive therapy in order to maintain
undetectable circulating TSH levels.
Subclinical hyperthyroidism in patients with Graves
disease should be medically treated, although experimental data supporting this approach are limited (31).
However, a number of patients with mild Graves disease
develop spontaneous remission without therapy. Therefore, periodic monitoring of thyroid function every 3
months, without initiation of therapy, is a reasonable
approach in young patients with mild subclinical hyperthyroidism caused by Graves disease (1). In contrast,
subclinical hyperthyroidism caused by nodular hyperthyroidism usually requires ablative treatment because
spontaneous normalization of thyroid function in this
condition seldom occurs. Thus, surgery or administration of radioactive iodine is the treatment of choice in
such cases.
The thyrotoxic phase of thyroiditis is transitory, with a
middle-time(2 to 3 months) spontaneous remission, and
usually needs no treatment or symptomatic treatment at
the most (51).
Severity: In general, patients with Grade I subclinical
hyperthyroidism may not be offered treatment. However, treatment of Grade I subclinical hyperthyroidism
is warranted in elderly patients ( > 65 years), in patients
with cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and symptoms of hyperthyroidism, and postmenopausal women
(especially those who have not been treated with estrogens or bisphosphonates) (1). Nevertheless, data regarding the potential benefits of treatment in these patients
are inconclusive. Restoration of serum TSH levels contributes to bone mass preservation (52-54); however, normalization of bone turnover rates may require several
months (47, 49, 50). A recent meta-analysis suggested a
progressive increase in mortality rates of people aged
over 60 years with subclinical thyroid dysfunction (43).
However, the 2004 American experts task force recommends against routine treatment of patients with Grade
I subclinical hyperthyroidism because the treatment neither benefits heart function nor improves arrhythmia in
these patients (31). After careful consideration , the 2005

494

Management of Subclinical

Joint Statement from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists concluded in favor of monitoring
this group of patients (46). On the other hand, treatment
should be strongly considered in high-risk individuals
with persistent endogenous Grade II (TSH level < 0.1 U/
mL) subclinical hyperthyroidism (14).
Notwithstanding the recent 2011 Guidelines, there are
still insufficient data to recommend for or against treatment of subclinical hyperthyroidism in young people
with subclinical hyperthyroidism. A study on middleaged patients showed an improvement in hyperthyroidism symptoms after treatment (36). However, in spite of
the fact that the study did not include young people, the
recent American Guidelines recommend treating all patients younger than 65 years with persistent and symptomatic Grade II subclinical hyperthyroidism (1).
3. Associated morbidity. As has been repeatedly indicated, the potential harmful effects associated with
subclinical hyperthyroidism are the major reasons for
starting specific treatment, as was recommended by the
European Guidelines (48). These side effects are more
evident in the elderly people and in patients with associated risk factors (48). Therefore, it is important to evaluate whether the following specific clinical situations are
present at diagnosis: (1) hyperactive thyroid dysfunction
of nodular origin; (2) goiter; (3) symptoms of thyrotoxicosis (generally nonspecific, such as fatigue, diarrhea, or
palpitations); (4) cardiovascular disease (such as atrial
fibrillation, angina, or heart failure); (5) bone or neuromuscular conditions; (6) gonadal dysfunction (oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, or infertility); 7) old age ( 65
years); (8) circulating T3 levels in the upper limit of the
normal range; and (9) very low serum TSH levels (< 0.01
U/mL or severe Grade II).

2.6. Election of Treatment

The armamentarium for treatment of thyroid dysfunction is similar for overt and subclinical disease: medical
therapy (antithyroid drugs and beta-adrenergic blockers), radioiodine administration, or surgery. The rationale and aim of subclinical hyperthyroidism therapy is
to restore the euthyroid state and avoid potential side
effects (36).
Medical therapy: Antithyroid drug therapy (carbimazole or its metabolite methimazole) at low doses (510
mg/day) is the treatment of choice in patients with
Graves disease. Treatment should be continued, under
adequate monitoring, for at least 6 months. Long-term
treatment (over 12 to 18 months) is a sensible initial alternative to radioiodine therapy, because the remission
index is high in patients with mild disease, especially in
young people (55). Carbimazole-related adverse effects
are usually not severe and can normally be managed
by changing the dose of the drug, although exceptional
severe events (such as agranulocytosis) have been described. Propylthiouracil could be an alternative option
to carbimazole, but recent studies have warned practitioners about the use of this drug (56). Propylthiouracil
should never be used in children (57) or in adults, except

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Management of Subclinical

during early pregnancy when propylthiouracil may help

avoid potential fetal malformations. In addition to causing liver disease, propylthiouracil is also associated with
a greater risk of developing vasculitis and glomerulonephritis (58). Ablative treatment (surgery or radioiodine
administration): Ablative therapy is generally safe and
has no associated complications; however, ablation in
asymptomatic patients is not advised. The presence of
Graves orbitopathy normally precludes the administration of radioiodine. Ablation is the only definitive therapy for nodular hyperthyroidism (48). Surgical treatment
is the recommended approach in young individuals with
a single hyperfunctioning nodule (toxic adenoma) and
in patients with toxic multinodular goiter (especially
those showing compressive symptoms) or possible malignancy (1). Administration of radioactive iodine is appropriate for most patients, especially those with toxic
multinodular goiter or over 60 years of age (1) and is
the best treatment option in patients with concomitant heart disease. Either surgery or radioactive iodine
administration may be recommended for patients with
Graves disease if medical therapy fails.
Symptomatic treatment: Treatment with beta-blockers
is recommended especially in the presence of adrenergic
symptoms. Beta-blockers improve hyperthyroid symptoms and control cardiovascular morbidity, especially
that caused by atrial fibrillation (38).

Acknowledgements
SSP and EPC have nothing to disclose. JCG is member of
Genzyme speakers bureau.

Financial Disclosure
None declared.

Funding/Support
None declared.

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Int J Endocrinol Metab. 2012;10(2):in press